Prevalence of Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease, Access to Dental Services and Perception of Oral Health in Adolescents and Adults from a Rural Community in Angola

TL;DR

This study examines dental health, access to care, and oral health perceptions in a rural Angolan community, finding high rates of untreated tooth decay and limited dental service access.

Contribution

The study provides new epidemiological data on oral health in a rural Angolan population.

Findings

72.9% of participants had untreated dental caries, with only 1.7% of decayed teeth restored.

Access to dental services was poor, with 42.8% never visiting a dentist and 60.2% rating services as average or poor.

Periodontal disease was not severe, with 1.7% of sextants showing periodontal pockets of 6 mm or more.

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the epidemiological profile of dental caries and periodontal disease, access to dental services, and perception of oral health in adolescents and adults from a rural community in Angola.

Materials and Methods: This is an observational, analytical and cross-sectional study, performed with 575 individuals aged between 12 and 40 years. The prevalence of caries and periodontal disease was assessed using the DMFT index and the Community Periodontal Index. Data on access to dental services, health and oral hygiene habits, and perception of oral health were collected through interviews.

Results: 42.8% never had a dental appointment; 85.1% had their last consultation in a public health service; 60.2% considered the service to be average/poor; 32.5% had their last consultation due to pain; 57.4% considered their oral health to be good/very good; 51.0% brushed their teeth twice a day; and 36.9% did not use toothpaste. The prevalence of untreated caries was 72.9% and only 1.7% of teeth affected by tooth decay were restored. A mean of 0.88 ± 1.44 sextants showed gingival bleeding; 1.46 ± 1.74 showed dental calculus; and 0.16 ± 0.58 showed periodontal pockets. The prevalence of sextants with periodontal pockets of 6 mm or more was 1.7%.

Conclusion: The prevalence of untreated caries was high, while periodontal disease does not represent a severe problem in this population. Access to dental services is poor and limited to extractions.