Clinical Investigation and Dental Innovation Center (CIDIC), Dental School and Center for Translational Medicine (CEMT-BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile.
Postgraduate Program in Oral Rehabilitation, Interuniversity Center for Healthy Aging, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 9;20(4):3001. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043001.
Risk factors associated with tooth loss have been studied; however, the current status of the epidemiological profiles and the impact of the pandemic on the oral health of the elderly is still unknown. This study aims to determine the experience of caries and tooth loss among elderly Chilean citizens in five regions and to identify the risk factors associated with tooth loss. The sample includes 135 participants over 60 years old assessed during COVID-19 lockdown. Sociodemographic variables such as education and RSH (Social Registry of Households) were obtained through a teledentistry platform called TEGO. The history of chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, depression and dental caries reported by DMFT index scores were incorporated. The statistical analysis included Adjusted Odds Ratios (ORs) to assess risk factors associated with the lack of functional dentition. Multivariate hypothesis testing was used to compare the mean equality of DMFT and its components between regions (-value < 0.05). Individuals with RSH ≤ 40% were at higher risk of having no functional dentition with OR 4.56 (95% CI: 1.71, 12.17). The only mean difference between regions was the filled tooth component. Tooth loss was associated with multidimensional lower income, where the elderly belonging to the 40% most vulnerable population had a higher prevalence of non-functional dentition. This study highlights the importance of implementing a National Oral Health Policy that focuses on oral health promotion and minimally invasive dentistry for the most vulnerable population.
已经研究了与牙齿缺失相关的风险因素；然而，目前尚不清楚流行病学特征的现状以及大流行对老年人口腔健康的影响。本研究旨在确定智利五个地区老年公民的龋齿和牙齿缺失经历，并确定与牙齿缺失相关的风险因素。该样本包括在 COVID-19 封锁期间评估的 135 名 60 岁以上的参与者。通过名为 TEGO 的远程牙科平台获得社会人口统计学变量，如教育和 RSH（家庭社会登记册）。通过 DMFT 指数评分报告的糖尿病、肥胖、抑郁和龋齿等慢性疾病史也被纳入其中。统计分析包括调整后的优势比（OR），以评估与缺乏功能性牙列相关的风险因素。多变量假设检验用于比较地区之间 DMFT 及其组成部分的平均值平等性（-值 < 0.05）。RSH ≤ 40%的个体无功能性牙列的风险更高，OR 为 4.56（95%CI：1.71, 12.17）。地区之间唯一的平均差异是填充牙成分。牙齿缺失与多维低收入有关，属于 40%最脆弱人群的老年人无功能性牙列的患病率更高。本研究强调了实施国家口腔健康政策的重要性，该政策侧重于口腔健康促进和针对最脆弱人群的微创牙科。
