José de Jesús Navarrete-Hernández

Salivary Parameters (Salivary Flow, pH and Buffering Capacity) in Stimulated Saliva of Mexican Elders 60 Years Old and Older.

OBJECTIVE To compare a limited array of chewing-stimulated saliva features (salivary flow, pH and buffer capacity) in a sample of elderly Mexicans with clinical, sociodemographic and socio-economic variables. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out in 139 adults, 60 years old and older, from two retirement homes and a senior day care centre in the city of Pachuca, Mexico. Sociodemographic, socio-economic and behavioural variables were collected through a questionnaire. A trained and standardized examiner obtained the oral clinical variables. Chewing-stimulated saliva (paraffin method) was collected and the salivary flow rate, pH and buffer capacity were measured. The analysis was performed using non-parametric tests in Stata 9.0. RESULTS Mean age was 79.1 ± 9.8 years. Most of the subjects included were women (69.1%). Mean chewing-stimulated salivary flow was 0.75 ± 0.80 mL/minute, and the pH and buffer capacity were 7.88 ± 0.83 and 4.20 ± 1.24, respectively. Mean chewing-stimulated salivary flow varied (p < 0.05) across type of retirement home, tooth brushing frequency, number of missing teeth and use of dental prostheses. pH varied across the type of retirement home (p < 0.05) and marginally by age (p = 0.087); buffer capacity (p < 0.05) varied across type of retirement home, tobacco consumption and the number of missing teeth. CONCLUSIONS These exploratory data add to the body of knowledge with regard to chewing-stimulated salivary features (salivary flow rate, pH and buffer capacity) and outline the variability of those features across selected sociodemographic, socio-economic and behavioural variables in a group of Mexican elders.

Reasons Why Erupted Third Molars Are Extracted in a Public University in Mexico

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to determine the reasons for which erupted third molars (3M) are extracted in a sample of Mexican patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of 83 patients attending exodontia (minor oral surgery) clinics of a public university in Mexico (Autonomous University of Hidalgo State). The outcome variable was the reason for extractions using Kay and Blinkhorns classification. The independent variables were age, gender, arch and tooth number according to the World Health Organization (WHO). For statistical analysis, we used the Chi-squared test in Stata 9.0. RESULTS Eighty-three patients underwent 150 3M extractions. Mean age was 38.67 ± 13.96 years, and 71.1% were female. The four reasons for 3M extraction were prosthetic (44.0%), followed by orthodontic (24.7%), dental caries (20.0%) and periodontal disease (11.3%). Differences were observed in the reasons for 3M extractions across age groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences existed between men and women (p > 0.05), or the WHO tooth number (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION Women and patients 18 to 34 years of age had erupted 3M extracted more frequently, primarily for prosthetic reasons. The age profile indicated a trend in demand for services that differ from those of overall tooth extractions, but not for the trend across gender.

Prevalence of multimorbidity in subjects aged ≥60 years in a developing country

Background Aging is one of the most prominent features in recent population dynamics around the world. As populations age, the prevalence of simultaneous chronic diseases increases, which is known as multimorbidity. Objective The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of multimorbidity and associated factors in a sample of elderly Mexican subjects. Materials and methods A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on a convenience sample of 139 subjects aged ≥60 years. The dependent variable was the multimorbidity diagnosis performed by a physician, which was categorized as 0 for subjects with no chronic disease or only 1 disease and 1 for subjects with 2 or more chronic diseases. Questionnaires were used to collect the information on the different variables. A statistical analysis was performed in Stata 11.0. Results The mean age was 79.06±9.78 years, and 69.1% of the subjects were women. A total of 69.1% (95% confidence interval =61.3–76.8) reported at least 1 morbidity. The mean morbidity by subject was 1.04±1.90. Cardiovascular diseases (25.9%), hypertension (20.1%), musculoskeletal disorders (19.4%), and diabetes (13.7%) were the most frequently reported conditions. The prevalence of multimorbidity (2 or more diseases) was 27.3% (95% confidence interval =19.8–34.8). No significant differences were observed in the independent variables. Conclusion In conclusion, the prevalence of multimorbidity in this sample of elderly Mexican subjects was relatively low. The distribution across the included variables was not significantly different. Interventions focused on the health care of older adults with multimorbidity should pay special attention to cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and musculoskeletal disorders.

Contribution of prosthetic treatment considerations for dental extractions of permanent teeth

Background. Tooth loss is an easily identifiable outcome that summarizes a complex suite of factors in an individual’s history of dental disease and its treatment by dental services over a lifetime. Assessment of overall tooth loss data is essential for epidemiologically evaluating the adequacy of dental care provided at a systems level, as well as for placing in context tooth loss for non-disease causes. For example, when derived from prosthetic treatment planning, the latter may unfortunately lead to some teeth being extracted (pulled) for the sake of better comprehensive clinical results. The objective of the present manuscript was to identify the contribution to overall tooth loss, by extraction of permanent teeth because of prosthetic treatment reasons. Material and Methods. A cross-sectional study included sex, age, total number of extractions performed by subject, sextant (anterior vs. posterior), group of teeth (incisors, canines, premolars and molars), upper or lower arch, and the main reason underlying extraction (extraction for any reason vs. prosthetic treatment), in patients 18 years of age and older seeking care at a dental school clinic in Mexico. A multivariate logistic regression model was generated. Results. A total of 749 teeth were extracted in 331 patients; 161 teeth (21.5% of total) were extracted for explicit prosthetic treatment indications. As age increased, the likelihood of having an extraction for prosthetic reasons increased 3% (OR = 1.03, p < 0.001). Women (OR = 1.57, p < 0.05) were more likely to be in this situation, and molars (OR = 2.70, p < 0.001) were most at risk. As the total number of extractions increased, the risk of having an extraction for prosthetic reasons decreased (OR = 0.94, p < 0.05). Conclusions. A significant amount (21.5%) of the extractions of permanent teeth were performed for prosthetic reasons in this dental school clinical environment; age, sex, type of tooth, and the total number of extractions moderated such pattern.