Dental caries and need for dental care among the Baniwa Indians, Rio Negro, Amazonas

Epidemiologic research conducted with Indian communities in Brazil has shown strong correlation between the deterioration of their oral health and the consumption of industrial products, sugar in particular, added to the lack of structure of oral health care. This study was carried out among the Baniwa Indians from the Tunuí-Cachoeira region, São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Northwestern Amazon, Brazil. A cross-sectional survey was conducted according to the criteria established by the WHO, focusing on dental caries and need for dental treatment. A total of 590 individuals were examined (49.2% of the population older than 2 years). The mean numbers of teeth with caries were 6.0, 8.2 and 22.1 in the age groups 12-14, 15-19 and more than 50 years respectively. In children with deciduous dentition the highest mean value of decayed, missing and filled teeth (5.3) was observed in children age 5. From the total of examined people, 73.6% showed some need for surgery-restoration. The individuals between 15-19 years of age show the highest need for restorations. The DFMT index for the Baniwa can be considered high. The results show that it is necessary to expand public health control measures related to oral heath, taking into consideration the complex socio-cultural reality of the Northwestern Amazon region.