Functional Tooth Loss in Adults Indigenous People of the Brazilian Northeast

In Brazil, very little is known about oral health epidemiology among indigenous people. The tooth loss due to dental caries and periodontal disease remains prevalent throughout the world despite progress in prevention and early treatment. In this way, tooth loss has a negative impact on chewing, swallowing, speech and appearance. The objective of this study was to analyze the functional tooth loss in adults 35 to 44 years-old from an indigenous population called Xukuru of Ororubá, Northeast Brazil. Was conducted a cross-sectional study in a sample of 195 Indians. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected through oral examination and sociodemographic variables were collected using a structured questionnaire. The dependent variable was functional edentulism (absence of at least 20 teeth) and the independent variables were sex, age, locality and self-perception of oral health. After the descriptive analysis performed by means of frequency distributions and measures of central tendency were built logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios and their confidence intervals of 95%. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee. The prevalence of functional edentulism was 52.7% (45.3% ~ 60.0%). The locality was not significantly associated with tooth loss. The females increased 2 times the chance of functional edentulism (p = 0.01). Above the median age (39 years) it increased 97% the chances of tooth loss (p = 0.02). Feel difficulty to eating or pain in the teeth increased by 2.5 times the chance of being edentulous functional (p <0.05). The study showed that tooth loss in adults is an important public health problem in this ethnic group. The prevalence was high and the results point to an issue of sex and age involved. In addition, self-perception of pain was also associated with this phenomenon. Oral health policies should be implemented for the rehabilitation of these individuals.