Edentulismo en adultos de Pachuca, México: aspectos sociodemográficos y socioeconómicos

Abstract

Introduction

Tooth loss has become a problem of oral health.

Objective

To determine the prevalence and distribution of edentulism, as well as the associated sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables in subjects aged 35 and older.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 656 randomly selected subjects. The study included men and women aged 35 years and older attending dental care clinics at a public university in Mexico. Examiners were trained in filling out questionnaires and receiving training in order to standardise the criteria of tooth loss. The dependent variable was the presence of edentulism. The data were analysed using Stata 11.

Results

The mean age of the population was 49.06 ± 10.33 years, and the majority (63.3%) were women. The overall prevalence of edentulism was 15.7% (95% CI: 12.9–18.5%); the prevalence among women was 17.6% and the prevalence among men was 12.5% (P = .081). The prevalence of edentulism was higher among older subjects (P < .001). The prevalence of edentulism was lower among individuals with higher levels of education (P < .001), those with higher socioeconomic status (P < .001), and those who had a car at home (P < 0.05)

Conclusions

The prevalence of edentulism in adults over 35 years of age attending dental care clinics at this public university was 15.7%. Differences were observed in the prevalence of edentulism by age, but not by gender. Socioeconomic differences were observed, suggesting certain oral health inequalities.