Periodontal status of an indigenous population at the Xingu Reserve

describe the prevalence of periodontal disease in the indigenous population of the Middle and Lower Xingu compared to the non-indigenous Brazilian population. Methods: The evaluated indigenous population of the Xingu Reserve had oral and dental examinations performed by calibrated examiners assisted by Oral Health Indigenous Agents. From a sample of 2,299 indigenous subjects, epidemiological investigations were conducted in 1,911 individuals, using the methodology recommended by the World Health Organization. Comparative periodontal data from the nonindigenous population were obtained from the Brazilian Ministry of Healths national epidemiological survey on oral health conditions (SB Brasil project). The periodontal data of 508 indigenous individuals were presented by age intervals of 15-19 (n=219), 35-44 (n=128) and 65-74 (n=161) years. Results: In the non-indigenous population, the periodontally healthy individuals were 46.2%, 21.9% and 7.9% for each age group, respectively, and in the Xingu population they were 28.76%, 3.12% and 0% for each age group, respectively. The most frequent finding in the Xingu population was the presence of calculus in 62.55% of younger people, 82.03% of adults and 45.45% of the elderly. The analysis by sextants demonstrated the presence of calculus in 25.04%, 44.79% and 18.18% for young, adults and elderly respectively. Conclusions: Despite the higher prevalence of calculus, in all age groups of the indigenous population, tooth loss does not seem to follow the same pattern observed in the non-indigenous Brazilian population, suggesting differences in susceptibility, habits or conditions

Evaluation of molar and incisor bite force in indigenous compared with white population in Brazil

The purpose of this study was to deter-mine maximum bite force in molar and incisor regions in young Brazilian indigenous individuals, who have had a natural diet since birth, and compare the sample with white Brazilian individuals. To do this, individuals were paired one-to-one (same weight, height, and Class I facial pattern). A secondary purpose was to elucidate the relation between bite force and gender in both populations. Eighty-two Brazilians took part in this study. Participants were aged between 18 and 28 years and were divided into two groups: 41 Xingu indigenous individuals and 41 white Brazilian individuals, with 28 men and 13 women in each group. The inclusion criteria were: having complete dentition; normal occlusion; no neurological, psychiatric or movement disorders.; no reports of toothaches; having satisfactory periodontal health; absence of large facial skeletal alterations (typical Class II and Class III individuals); and no previous treatments using occlusal splints. To measure maximum bite force, a digital dynamometer model IDDK (Kratos-Equipamentos Industriais Ltda, Cotia, Sao Paulo, Brazil) was used, with a capacity of 1000 N, adapted for oral conditions. Assessments were made in the first molar (right and left) and central incisive regions. Results reveal that mean maximum bite forces in indigenous individuals of the right molar is 421 N, left molar 429 N and incisor region is 194 14 and for white individuals of the right molar is 410 N, left molar 422 N and incisor region is 117 N. Comparing indigenous with white individuals, maximal bite force showed a tendency of being greater in the indigenous group. It was observed that the incisor region showed statistical significance (p < 0.0005) but no significance was observed in the molar region. Moreover, indigenous men showed the highest bite force values. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Método para avaliação clínica da capacidade tamponante salivar A method for the clinical evaluation of salivary buffer capacity

O presente estudo teve por objetivo o desenvolvimento e a padronização de um método colorimétrico para avaliar a capacidade tamponante salivar média de nossa população. As amostras de saliva estimulada foram tituladas sem eliminação do CO2. Estudos foram realizados para verificar a influência da perda de CO2 das amostras durante o período necessário para a realização das titulações e para a padronização do tempo de leitura do pH. A partir das titulações realizadas nas amostras de saliva de 206 indivíduos de ambos os sexos na faixa etária de 5 a 50 anos, na proporção de 0,77:1:0,44, respectivamente para crianças, jovens e adultos, foram feitas as distribuições de freqüências dos casos, a determinação média do pH inicial, do pKa, microequivalentes relativos ao final da titulação, pH final da titulação e uma estimativa da porcentagem da saliva titulada em pH 5. Com base nestas variáveis foi estabelecida uma classificação dos indivíduos quanto à capacidade tamponante. Análise dos resultados utilizando-se 11, 12 ou 13 microequivalentes de H+/ml indicam que o valor de 11 microequivalentes/ml de saliva é o mais apropriado para a avaliação da capacidade tamponante salivar em nossa população.<br>The present study aimed to develop and standardize a colorimetric method for assessing salivary buffer capacity adapted to the features of the Brazilian population. Samples of stimulated saliva were titrated without CO2 elimination. The assessment was carried out to study the influence of the loss of CO2 from the samples during the few minutes necessary for titration, and to standardize the instants for measuring pH. Saliva samples were titrated from 206 individuals from both genders, between 5 and 50 years of age, and in a proportion of 0.77 : 1 : 0.44, respectively of children, youngsters, and adults. Case frequency distribution; determination of average values of initial pH, pKa, µ equivalents related to titration end point and final pH; and estimate of the percentage of saliva titrated at a pH of 5.0 were calculated based on the data collected. The results were used to classify individuals according to their salivary buffer capacity by colorimetric pH determinations using 11,12, and 13 µ equivalents of H+/ml saliva, and were compared to case frequency distribution obtained from saliva titration data. The results indicate that 11 µ equivalents H+/ml of saliva is the most appropriate for clinically evaluating the salivary buffer capacity of our population