title: Dental caries in 6-12-year-old indigenous and non-indigenous schoolchildren in the Amazon basin of Ecuador.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the caries experience among 6-12-year-old indigenous (Naporunas) and non-indigenous (recent settlers of mixed ethnic origin) schoolchildren, living in the Amazon basin of Ecuador. Cross-sectional data were obtained from 1,449 clinical exams according to the World Health Organization criteria. Nine (7.6%) indigenous and 3 (4.5%) non-indigenous children had no caries experience in their primary dentition at the age of 6. The mean dmft value (SD) among indigenous and non-indigenous children aged 6 was 6.40 (3.36) and 8.36 (3.93), respectively. Sixty-four (54.2%) indigenous and 29 (43.3%) non-indigenous children had no caries experience in their permanent first molars at the age of 6. Only 7 (6.26%) indigenous and 2 (2.60%) non-indigenous children were caries-free at the age of 12. The mean DMFT values (SD) for 12-year-olds were 4.47 (2.85) among indigenous and 5.25 (2.89) among non-indigenous children. Fillings were almost non existent. Caries rates were high among both groups, with untreated carious lesions predominating in all ages. The data of indigenous children suggest adoption of a non-traditional diet. An appropriate oral health response based primarily on prevention and health promotion is needed.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Epidemiología y Salud Comunitaria Manuel Amunárriz, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Widman
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: Anna-Karin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Hurtig
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: San Sebastián
authors.forename: Edy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quizhpe
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romero
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004484:Ecuador / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D044382:Population Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D045483:Rivers; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology