Epidemiology of Oral Diseases

Epidemiology of Dental Caries

• Definition: Progressive, irreversible microbial disease of multifactorial nature affecting the calcified tissue of the teeth, characterized by demineralization of the inorganic portion and destruction of the organic portion of the tooth.
• Epidemiological triad:
  • Host factor: tooth composition, morphology, position, saliva composition, buffering capacity, sex, race, age, socioeconomic status, concomitant disease, oral hygiene habits, familial heredity, and emotional disturbance.
  • Agent factor: Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophillus, and Actinomyces.
  • Environmental factor: geographic variation, diet, sucrose, urbanization, climate, and soil.

Epidemiology of Periodontal Diseases

• Definition: Infection of the periodontium, including gingivitis and periodontitis.
• Epidemiological triad:
  • Host factor: geographic distribution, socioeconomic status, and oral hygiene habits.
  • Agent factor: Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacteria, and Treponema spp.
  • Environmental factor: geographic variation, diet, and urbanization.
• Prevention:
  • Primary prevention: assessment of the problem, prevention of plaque formation and accumulation, health education, diet counseling, and early diagnosis of gingivitis.
  • Secondary prevention: scaling, curettage, and early diagnosis.
  • Tertiary prevention: splinting, deep curettage, root planning, and prosthetic rehabilitation.

Epidemiology of Oral Cancer

• Definition: A group of diseases characterized by abnormal growth of cells, with the ability to invade adjacent tissues and even distant organs.
• Epidemiological triad:
  • Host factor: age, sex, race, genetic factors, occupation, and socioeconomic status.
  • Agent factor: habits (smoking, tobacco chewing, spicy food, alcohol), and environmental factors.
  • Environmental factor: water contamination, air pollution, geographic variation, and industrialization.
• Incidence: 3.7% for men and 2.6% for women, with oral cancer ranking as the sixth most common cancer in Sudan.
• Prevention:
  • Primary prevention: dentists can influence politicians and communities to adopt relevant policies, and directly influence smokers to stop using tobacco, reduce alcohol consumption, and improve their diet.
  • Secondary prevention: early detection through screening of high-risk groups, biopsy of any suspicious oral mucosal lesion, and non-healing ulcer.
  • Tertiary prevention: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and prosthetic rehabilitation.
  • Rehabilitation after oral cancer: dietary counseling, surgery, prosthesis, and speech therapy.