Social Inequalities and Geographical Distribution in Caries Treatment Needs among Schoolchildren Living in Buenos Aires City: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Caries experience in Argentine children is quite high and no national data are present.

Aim: This cross-sectional observational survey aimed to assess the oral health status of schoolchildren in Buenos Aires (CABA) using CTNI and to evaluate the ecological association between health inequalities and caries prevalence.

Design: Data were collected, via a clustered procedure, during the 2016-2018 school years. Children were examined at school to determine dental status according to the CTNI performed under standardized conditions, using light, dental mirrors, WHO probes and magnification (2.5×). Secondary sources were used to acquire socio-demographic and epidemiological data. A hierarchical cluster analysis was carried out with the municipalities of the CABA as the dependent variable and the socio-demographic factors.

Results: The study population consisted of 62,904 schoolchildren, 43,571 of whom were enrolled into the study. Total caries prevalence was 67.78% while severe caries prevalence was 28.29%, which was statistically associated with the year of the survey (p < 0.01). Four territorial conglomerates from a socio-epidemiological standpoint outline homogeneous areas of social risk; cluster 1 had the highest social risk. The prevalence of severe caries (CTNI 7-14) was highest in cluster 1 (44.7-53.2% of the population).

Conclusion: The social inequalities between municipalities of the CABA were statistically associated with high inequalities in oral health needs.