title: Dental caries in Uruguayan adults and elders: findings from the first Uruguayan National Oral Health Survey.
abstract: This study aimed to assess dental caries status and associated factors in Uruguayan adults and elders using data from the first Uruguayan National Oral Health Survey. Data were representative of the country as a whole. Socio-demographic information was collected with a closed questionnaire. Dental caries was assessed by clinical examination using the DMFT index. The final sample consisted of 769 participants. Mean DMFT was 15.20 and 24.12 for the 35-44 and 65-74-year age groups, respectively. Mean number of decayed teeth was 1.70 in adults and 0.66 in elders. Multivariate analyses showed higher prevalence of dental caries associated with age 65-74 years, low socioeconomic status, use of public dental services, presence of gingivitis; for decayed teeth, age 35-44 years, low socioeconomic status, use of public dental services, infrequent tooth brushing, need for oral health care, and presence of root caries showed higher severity. Uruguayan adults and elders from disadvantaged backgrounds concentrated a heavier burden of dental caries.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, UY.
authors.forename: Licet
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, UY.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liberman
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, UY.
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, UY.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mangarelli
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, BR.
authors.forename: Marcos B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, BR.
authors.forename: Flávio Fernando
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Demarco
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, UY.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, BR.
authors.forename: Gustavo G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Nascimento
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014583:Uruguay / Q000453:epidemiology