Prevalence of dental caries and gingival disease in adult patients of the preventive clinical practice curricular unit at the Faculty of Dentistry of UNNE

Abstract

Introduction: Oral health is an essential component of general well-being, and its deterioration negatively affects quality of life. Dental caries and gingival disease remain the most prevalent oral pathologies, especially in socially vulnerable contexts. Objective: A study was conducted to determine the prevalence of dental caries and gingival disease in adult patients treated in the Preventive Clinical Practice curricular unit of the Faculty of Dentistry at UNNE, and to analyze the effectiveness of the preventive interventions applied. Materials and methods: A descriptive design was used, covering the periods 2022–2023 and 2024. Clinical records were analyzed using the O’Leary index for oral hygiene, the Löe and Silness index for gingival health, and the DMFS index for caries experience. The data were processed in Microsoft Excel, and descriptive statistics were applied, considering age, sex, and clinical follow-up visits. Results: In 2024, 882 patients were evaluated, with an average age of 26 years and a predominance of female patients. An improvement was observed in the O’Leary index, from 24 % to 15 %, and in the Löe index, from 1.12 to 0.79, while the mean DMFS score was 22. In the 2022–2023 period, which included 273 patients, the indices also improved: O’Leary, from 24 % to 14 %; Löe, from 0.61 to 0.37. The total DMFS score was 17. Conclusion: The results demonstrate the effectiveness of clinical and educational strategies in reducing dental plaque and gingival inflammation. However, the persistent caries experience highlights the need to strengthen public policies and preventive programs in adult oral health.