Hollie Hawrot
Floating Doctors, Panama
Title: The DMFT of 12-year-olds in the indigenous Ngobe-Bugle population compared to the DMFT of 12-year-olds in Panama
Biography
Biography: Hollie Hawrot
Abstract
Statement of the Problem: The Ngobe-Bugle populations, who are indigenous to Panama, are the largest of the three indigenous groups. Historically, they have had limited contact with dental professionals and therefore, have received minimal oral health education. Over recent years, refined sugar and sugar-containing products have become much more easily accessible to these populations. There is very limited research on the oral health of the Ngobe-Bugle populations and therefore the DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) of the paediatric population is unknown.
Aim: The purpose of this study is to calculate a DMFT rate for the paediatric patient’s in the Ngobe-Bugle population, and compare it to the DMFT rate of children in Panama as a whole.
Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Using standard WHO methodology, examinations for missing teeth and caries were completed by three dental professionals who calculated a DMFT rate. Data was collected retrospectively and patients from the age of 5-18 were included in the study. Unerupted teeth, congenitally missing teeth, supernumerary teeth and third molars were not included in the study. An average DMFT score was calculated for 12 year-olds and as an average for 5-18 year olds, and was compared to the DMFT rate of 12 year olds in Panama.
Findings: The DMFT rate of 12 year-olds in the Ngobe Bugle population was higher than the DMFT rate of 12 year-olds in Panama.