Browsing by Author "Cuenca-León, Katherine"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Distribution of Dental Fluorosis in the Southern Zone of Ecuador: An Epidemiological Study
    (Dentistry Journal, 2023-03-03) Velez León, Eleonor María; Albaladejo-Martínez, Alberto; Ortíz-Ortega, Paulia; Cuenca-León, Katherine; Armas-Vega, Ana del Carmen; Melo, maría
    In recent decades, the increase in fluoride exposure has raised the numbers of dental fluoro sis in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities In Ecuador, but the last national epidemiological study on DF was conducted more than a decade ago. The objective of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to determine the prevalence, distribution and severity of dental fluorosis (DF) using the Dean index in 1606 schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years from urban and rural environments in provinces that make up the Southern Region of Ecuador. Participants met the inclusion criteria which were age, locality, informed consent document and no legal impediment. The results are presented using percentage frequency measures and chi-square associations. The prevalence of dental fluorosis was 50.1% in the areas of Azuay, Cañar and Morona Santiago, with no significant differences (x 2 = 5.83, p = 0.054). The types of DF found most frequently were very mild and mild in all provinces; a moderate degree was more prevalent in Cañar (17%). There was no significant association (p > 0.05) between sex and the presence of dental fluorosis and, with respect to severity, the most frequent degree was moderate at the age of 12 years. The prevalence of dental fluorosis in the area evaluated is high, especially in the light and very light degrees, with a tendency toward moderate levels. It is necessary to carry out studies on the factors that are predisposing to the development of this pathology in the population studied. This research is an update regarding this pathology in Ecuador, so it is concluded that it is necessary to continue developing studies based on the findings obtained, thus contributing to the public health of the country.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Prevalence of Caries According to the ICDAS II in Children from 6 and 12 Years of Age from Southern Ecuadorian Regions
    (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022-06-14) Vélez-León, Eleonor; Albaladejo, Alberto; Cuenca-León, Katherine; Jiménez-Romero, Magaly; Armas-Vega, Ana; Melo, María
    In Ecuador, national data on dental caries are scarce and the detection of incipient enamel lesions has been omitted. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of caries in school children aged 6 and 12 years of both sexes, belonging to urban and rural areas of three provinces of the country, using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II). The sample consisted of 665 children from public schools, examined according to ICDASII. Caries prevalence and caries index were established using ICDAS II 2-6/C-G and ICDAS II 4-6/EG criteria for comparison with WHO indicators. The Mann–Whitney U statistical test was used for comparison of two groups, the effect size was measured with the correlation coefficient. and the Kruskal–Wallis H test (p < 0.05) for multiple comparisons. Caries prevalence exceeded 87% for primary and permanent dentition. There were no significant differences according to province (p ≤ 0.05). The caries index at 6 years was 6.57 and at 12 years 9.21. The SIC was high at 12 years in rural areas. The prevalence of caries in the population studied was high despite the preventive measures established by health agencies.