Oral disease is a major public health problem due to its prevalence in practically all age groups. This is a study of the overall burden of dental caries, edentulism and periodontal disease. The Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) indicator was used as it simultaneously measures the impact of mortality and of health problems that affect the quality of life. The overall burden of oral diseases was analyzed in absolute terms and in rates per 1000 inhabitants. The number of Years Lived with Disability (YLD) due to dental caries was 4,489. An estimated 33,888 YLD were lost due to edentulism, with a rate of 1.8/1000 (2.2/1000 among women). An estimated 3217 YLD were lost due to periodontal disease, with a rate of 0.2/1000 for both sexes. Edentulism was the condition that contributed most to the overall burden of oral diseases and is more frequent among women. Higher rates of edentulism and periodontal disease were found in persons aged 45-69 years, while dental caries was more frequent from 15-49 years. The overall burden of oral disease studies represent an important aspect of health diagnosis, integrating both fatal and non-fatal outcomes. Furthermore, these studies provide highly relevant information for preventive and therapeutic policy making.
Disability-Adjusted Life Years; Epidemiology; Oral health
