Epidemiological profile of dental caries and periodontal disease, in Nicaragua, year 2005

Abstract

Caries and periodontal disease are public health problems due to their effects: pain, functional impairment, decreased quality of life, cause of systemic problems such as airway obstruction, heart, brain, propensity to pneumonia, gastrointestinal problems, skin, respiratory system. immune system, chronic fatigue syndrome, putting the lives of people with previously damaged heart valves at risk, or causing premature births, which is why it was considered vitally important to determine the epidemiological profile of these diseases in Nicaragua. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out, with a sample of 1800 people, ages 5, 12, 15, 35-44, 65-74 years, urban and rural, both sexes, taking criteria established by the WHO "Oral Health Research, Basic Methods" [9], on epidemiological studies of dental caries and periodontal disease: 12 sample points. Results: Caries attack prevalence 90.61%. Prevalence of periodontal disease, 88.23%. Conclusions: Nicaraguan population with high rates of caries and periodontal disease, with no difference in prevalence of caries, with respect to sex, but it increases as age increases, being higher in rural areas. The prevalence of periodontal disease, is higher in women, increases as age increases, being higher in rural areas.