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Oral health in Tuvalu
Author(s) -
Speak John David,
Malaki Tihala
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1982.tb00374.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dentistry , dentures , periodontal disease , oral health , orthodontics
Current WHO methods were employed to estimate the prevalence of oral pathology, dentofacial anomalies, periodontal disease, caries and prosthetic status as well as treatment needs in Tuvalu, a newly emergent nation in the South Pacific. Fluorosis was endemic but other disorders of teeth, mucosa or bone were extremely rare and the presence of dentofacial anomalies was very low. Periodontal disease was “moderate” at 15 years of age but seemed to be a predisposing factor in caries from the late teens onward. Comparison with a survey 8 years previously indicated that caries rates had risen from “very low” to “low” at 12 years of age but treatment services had improved markedly. More than half of persons in the 55–64 year age group required full maxillary and mandibular dentures whilst 10% already possessed them.