Spatial distribuition of tooth loss in a population of adults

ABSTRACT Introduction: Although there has been an improvement in the oral health status of the population, tooth loss still aggravates the oral health of adults and is a matter of great relevance to dentistry. Aim: To determine the spatial distribution of tooth loss in adults and correlate this with the Social Exclusion Index and proximity to public dental services. Material and Method: This ecological study was based on epidemiological data of adults from Piracicaba municipality and from the Piracicaba Research and Planning Institute (IPPLAP). Data on dental evaluations were extracted from the Piracicaba epidemiological survey, which was a cross-sectional study with probabilistic sampling of 248 adults aged 20-64 years, representative of adults living in Piracicaba, Brazil. Oral examinations of the DMFT index were in accordance with the World Health Organization codes and criteria and were performed by a single examiner calibrated for this purpose. Data on social exclusion and the municipal health units that have dental services were extracted from IPPLAP. Georeferencing was performed of census tracts selected by draw, and the city health facilities that have dental services. For Spearman correlation analysis (p <0.05), we used the mean value of teeth lost per district, the Social Exclusion Index (IEX), and proximity to public dental service categorized according to radius: <500m, between 500-1000m, and >1000m the census tract. Result: There was a correlation between tooth loss and higher IEX, and r=−0.51 (p=0.01), but no correlation with proximity to public dental services (p=0.42). Conclusion: Tooth loss in adults was distributed according to social exclusion, however, it was unrelated to proximity to the public dental services.