Dental caries in South American Indigenous peoples: A systematic review

Abstract

Objectives To determine the severity of dental caries in South American Indigenous peoples. Methods A systematic review was conducted regarding the severity of dental caries in South American Indigenous peoples using the following electronic databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, SCOPUS, SciELO, LILACS and grey literature up to March 2018. Literature search was conducted up to March 2018. No restrictions on language or year of publication were applied. Descriptive analysis and meta‐analysis of studies were performed to determine mean dmft/DMFT index (decayed, missing and filled teeth) and temporal trends for selected age brackets. Results The search strategy retrieved 698 studies, of which 70 full‐text articles were assessed for eligibility and 28 were included in the qualitative analysis. Finally, 18 papers were included in the meta‐analysis. Publication year ranged from 1964 to 2018. Mean dmft for 5‐year‐old children was 5.73 (95% CI 4.67‐6.79), and mean DMFT for 12‐year‐olds was 3.14 (95% CI 1.88‐4.40). Estimated DMFT for 15‐19 years, 35‐44 years and 65‐74 years was 5.53 (95% CI 2.97‐8.09), 19.41 (95% CI 11.88‐26.93) and 28.19 (24.83‐31.55), respectively. DMFT was higher than that reported in general population surveys in Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Venezuela for all age brackets with available data. Heterogeneity was observed in all age brackets, ranging from 79.7 to 99.7%. Conclusion Dental caries remains a significant public health problem for South American Indigenous peoples. Prevention and treatment strategies that consider cultural specificities are needed.

Dental caries in primary and permanent teeth in children’s worldwide, 1995 to 2019: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The tooth develops immediately after the last primary tooth at the age of six and is most likely to be decayed. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of General Dentistry all recommend making sure to see a dentist 6 months after the eruption of teeth in children, before the age of one year's [161][162][163][164][165][166]. One of the most important and available measures to prevent caries, especially primary teeth in children, is performing dental procedures such as fissure sealant and fluoride therapy.…”

Dental caries, periodontal disease and restorative dental care among Indigenous and non‐Indigenous groups in Brazil: A descriptive study

“…12 The clinical examinations were performed in households by a team of dentists who had been previously trained and calibrated. The survey in the Indigenous population was carried out by a team of 26 dentists who worked in the Indigenous Health Care Subsystem (SASI-SUS) that is linked to the Nacional Unified Health The Indigenous oral health survey study protocol (Number 16,632)…”

“…The diversity of socio-historical, environmental, economic and ethnic contexts in which the interaction between Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons has occurred could determine a variety of protective and risk factors related to oral health that would impact differently on the health of each individual Indigenous group. 15,16 Evidence suggests that the oral health transition among Indigenous groups is a dynamic process, and unfavourable situations can be minimized and even reversed through well-structured health programmes appropriate to Indigenous reality. 6,15,17,18 In Brazil, the Xavante case illustrates this process well.…”

Risk factors for dental caries in Latin American and Caribbean countries

“…26 Several studies conducted in Latin American indigenous people have shown a rise in the caries prevalence and severity, 45 with a systematic review concluding that sex-based differences and increasing age were associated with a higher caries experience in Guarani and Xavanti groups in Brazil. 59 With respect to the parents' low educational level, an association was found with higher caries prevalence in cross-sectional studies conducted in Colombia, 60 Mexico, 61 and Chile. 62 Further, low socioeconomic status was associated with a higher prevalence of dental caries.…”