Oral health status in children from the Yunincama-Shintoriato native community

Aquino-Canchari C.R.; Marchena-Martinez T.J.; Huamán-Castillon K.M.; Cortez-Orellana S. · Medicina (Brazil) (2025) · DOI: 10.11606/issn.2176-7262.rmrp.2025.226945

Resumen

Introduction: Oral diseases in indigenous populations constitute a public health problem. Objective: To determine the oral health status of children from a Peruvian indigenous community. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted. The sample consisted of 119 children from a native Peruvian community. Oral health was evaluated using an epidemiological record with the following indicators: DMFT index, dental caries significance index (SIC), simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S), molar relationship, and index of clinical consequences of untreated dental caries (PUFA). For data analysis, STATA v.19 statistical software was used. Results: The prevalence of dental caries was 97.47% (n=116). Regarding the dental caries experience index, most of the children had a very high level in deciduous teeth, 34.47% (n=41), and in permanent teeth, 40.33% (n=48), respectively. Regarding the oral hygiene index, a higher percentage of children were at a regular level, 55.50% (n=66). Additionally, the mean score for the PUFA index was Me=0.30 (SD=±0.56), which was higher than the mean score for the PUFA index, Me=0.14 (SD=±0.49). Conclusion: The oral health condition of the children from the indigenous community of Yunincama-Shintoriato is alarming, with a prevalence of dental caries at 97.47%, leading to a high burden of dental caries and its consequences, including poor oral hygiene and malocclusions. It is of crucial importance to implement oral health strategies in favor of the indigenous population.

Instituciones: Universidad Continental; Universidad Peruana Los Andes; Universidad de Huánuco