National oral health survey Zimbabwe 1995: periodontal conditions

Building oral health research infrastructure: the first national oral health survey of Rwanda

Background: Oral health affects quality of life and is linked to overall health. Enhanced oral health research is needed in low- and middle-income countries to develop strategies that reduce the burden of oral disease, improve oral health and inform oral health workforce and infrastructure development decisions.

Objective: To implement the first National Oral Health Survey of Rwanda to assess the oral disease burden and inform oral health promotion strategies.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, sample size and site selection were based on the World Health Organization (WHO) Oral Health Surveys Pathfinder stratified cluster methodologies. Randomly selected 15 sites included 2 in the capital city, 2 other urban centers and 11 rural locations representing all provinces and rural/urban population distribution. A minimum of 125 individuals from each of 5 age groups were included at each site. A Computer Assisted Personal Instrument (CAPI) was developed to administer the study instrument.

Results: Nearly two-thirds (64.9%) of the 2097 participants had caries experience and 54.3% had untreated caries. Among adults 20 years of age and older, 32.4% had substantial oral debris and 60.0% had calculus. A majority (70.6%) had never visited an oral health provider. Quality-of-life challenges due to oral diseases/conditions including pain, difficulty chewing, self-consciousness, and difficulty participating in usual activities was reported at 63.9%, 42.2% 36.2%, 35.4% respectively.

Conclusion: The first National Oral Health Survey of Rwanda was a collaboration of the Ministry of Health of Rwanda, the University of Rwanda Schools of Dentistry and Public Health, the Rwanda Dental Surgeons and Dental (Therapists) Associations, and Tufts University and Harvard University Schools of Dental Medicine. The international effort contributed to building oral health research capacity and resulted in a national oral health database of oral disease burden. This information is essential for developing oral disease prevention and management strategies as well as oral health workforce and infrastructure.

Prevalence and Severity of Oral Diseases in the Africa and Middle East Region

This review aims to determine the prevalence and severity of oral health diseases in the Africa and Middle East region (AMER). The profile of oral diseases is not homogeneous across the AMER. There are large disparities between groups. Reliable data are scarce. The prevalence and severity of oral diseases appear to be increasing in the African region, as does associated morbidity. There are substantial differences in inequalities in oral health. Dental caries prevalence is less severe in most African countries than in developed countries, but the high rate of untreated caries reflects the limited resources available and difficulties of access and affordability to essential oral health care services. The prevalence of gingival inflammation is very high in all age groups in several African countries. The prevalence of maxillofacial trauma has increased in many countries, with a wide variation of the incidence and high prevalence of traumatic dental injuries in primary and permanent teeth. Orofacial clefts are among the most common birth defects. Annual incidence of oral cancer is estimated as 25 cases per 100,000 people in Africa. Noma is a major public health problem for the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. Data about human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS are limited, particularly in the MENA region. According to the World Health Organization Regional Committee for Africa report, some fundamental key basic knowledge gaps need to be underlined. They include inequalities in oral health, low priority for oral health, lack of adequate funding, inadequate dental student training, obstacles to medical and dental research, and poor databases. There are very few effective public prevention and oral health promotion programs in the AMER. Universal health coverage is not achievable without scientific research on the effectiveness of health promotion interventions.

Periodontal treatment needs of patients with renal disease receiving haemodialysis

AIM/OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to perform periodontal assessment, using the CPITN index, on patients undergoing renal dialysis.

METHODS

The periodontal conditions of 342 subjects undergoing renal dialysis from eight renal dialysis centres were examined using CPITN. Subjects were distributed into four age groups, 16-19, 20-34, 35-44 and > or =45 years. The study was conducted during a 6-month period. All clinical examinations were performed by one examiner.

RESULTS

There was a significant positive relationship between the CPITN scores and age (r=0.164, p=0.002) and dialysis duration (r = 0.240, p=0.000). There was no statistically significant difference between male and female patients (p>0.05). None of the age groups had healthy sextants. The 35-44 year-age group had a higher number of sextants with deep pockets (0.19) than the other age groups and edentulous sextants were the highest among the oldest age group (1.89).

CONCLUSION

A very small portion of the renal dialysis population is affected by severe forms of periodontitis requiring complex periodontal treatment. However, all such patients should be given oral hygiene education as a priority.

Periodontal condition and treatment needs (CPITN) in the Bulgarian population aged over 60 years

AIM

To investigate the periodontal condition and treatment needs of elderly people in Bulgaria.

SUBJECTS

653 subjects over 60 years of age (263 males and 390 females).

METHOD

The study was carried out in 1999 using WHO recommended survey techniques. The analysis included only the results of the subjects eligible for assessment using CPITN, 497 subjects (206 males and 291 females).

RESULTS

More than 88% of the subjects were affected by periodontal disease of various severity. The percentage of subjects with pathological pockets (CPITN 3, 4) increased with age.

CONCLUSIONS

In comparison to the large needs of periodontal therapy in general, the complex treatment needs (TN 3) were relatively small. The major volume of needs related to periodontal care lie within the competence of the general dental practitioner to treat.

Dental caries prevalence, tooth brushing and periodontal status in 150 young people in Istanbul: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate periodontal conditions, prevalence and determination of dental caries and oral health behaviours in a group of young people in Istanbul.

DESIGN

Subjects were orally examined and questioned.

SETTING

A high school in Istanbul.

SUBJECTS

One hundred of fifty students.

RESULTS

This study showed that 28 per cent of teenagers had adequate oral hygiene. These findings suggest that 72 per cent of the subjects needed oral hygiene education and required restorative dental care.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed that dental treatment need is very high in the sample group. Strong co-operation should be set up between families, schools, communities, regulators and legislators in order to develop and implement comprehensive oral health promotion programmes.