The Third Island presents the highest regional gingival problems in children aged 12 years, shows a regional study on the prevalence of oral diseases in the school population. About fifty percent of the children studied, on the island, have periodontal problems (gingival).
This problem is mainly due to lack of care or poor oral brushing of teeth, said the coordinator of the study, to our newspaper. Viveiros Ricardo Cabral, the coordinator of the Program for Promotion of Oral Health of the Azores, ensures that this difficulty will be overcome with intensive work in promoting oral hygiene among children of school age. Indicators of scientific comparison between regions - the index of dental caries in children of 12 years and the percentage of children free of caries in mixed dentition (6 years) - show that the region is changing very rapidly in terms of oral health.
The specialist in dental medicine ensures that the region in five years (2000 to 2005) showed "considerable gains in health", noting a substantial reduction in the prevalence of dental caries, with a decrease in the DMF index (decayed, missing and filled) of 4.5 (affected teeth) to 2.1. "While still far from the targets set by WHO (World Health Organization) for 2020, which is 1.5, the gains achieved in the region are a national example," explains Ricardo Viveiros Cabral.
On the second indicator, the percentage of children free of caries, the region in five years rose from 30.8% to 37.3%. The WHO is 80 percent. The evolution of these indices increases with age, says, remembering that we are "far from the desired" but, now, we are very close to the national average. There was, according Viveiros Ricardo Cabral, a very positive development since the implementation of the Oral Health Program in the region and with the increase of professionals in the islands.
The dentist noted that the Azores is the only country that provides dental public, through a regional program with innovative measures at the country level. The health centers of the Azores, with the exception of the island of Faial, already provide an average of 27 thousand of oral health consultations per year, revealed, claiming "that the next goal is 30 thousand consultations."
The expert acknowledged that "there is still much to do in these areas, but remember that the" left tail of the deep. "In 2002 the Azores had three professionals in the Regional Health System, are now in 16 tables and four employed" . Viveiros Ricardo Cabral recalls the implementation of new measures such as the Bulletin Single Oral Health, which is available for children of nine islands, which allows recording all the information and medical history of its bearer. This newsletter, which can be obtained free at the health of the nine islands, is a further contribution to the oral health of the Azores, in the context of the current program.
The development of the region in terms of oral health is recognized and praised by the scientific community and the regional program will be taken as an example for the future national program "Oral Health. The Order of Dentists Doctors estimate that about 50% of the population is unable to pay a consultation in private dental and advocates the implementation of the Azores in the country. "While there are dentists in medical centers or health systems to grant, they will be excluded from the oral health, "said recently the agency Lusa the president of the Association of Medical Dental, Orlando Monteiro da Silva. The Order is to strive to have dentists in the health centers and hospitals or Portuguese to be created systems with the private agreement.
The example of the Azores is repeatedly referenced by the Order and by national experts. Viveiros Ricardo Cabral hopes that regional investment is enhanced in this area in order to avoid a decline in health. "A person without oral health, is not in perfect health" - recalls.
The regional study on the prevalence of oral diseases in the school population, to be published shortly by the regional secretary for Social Affairs, also shows that islands with higher rate of dental caries are those of the Western Group and Vila do Porto (Santa Maria) has the highest percentage of sealed teeth. The data revealed, for 2005 and 2006, pointing also to a large number of children with dental trauma (fractured tooth) on the island of Faial. Deficiencies in school buildings may be contributing to this situation, since it is early in the year that records the greatest number of problems.
The Pico and Sao Miguel have the highest rates of dental fluorosis, a change that occurs due to excess intake of fluoride during the formation of the teeth (causing stains in the teeth).
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