dental carries is an endemic disease "means that the disease

dental carries is an endemic disease "means that the disease is:

• a- occurs clearly in excess of normal expectancy
• b- is habitually present in human population****
• c- affect large number of countries simultaneously
• d- exhibit a seasonal pattern

Overview

Most oral health diseases are largely preventable and treatable in their early stages. Most cases are dental caries (cavities), gum disease, tooth loss and oral cancers. Other oral diseases of public health importance include cleft lip and palate, noma (a severe gangrenous disease that begins in the mouth and mostly affects children) and oral and dental trauma.

WHO's Global Report on the State of Oral Health (2022) estimates that oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide, with 3 out of 4 people suffering from them living in middle-income countries. Globally, it is estimated that 2 billion people suffer from caries in the permanent teeth and 514 million children suffer from caries in the primary (deciduous) teeth.

The global prevalence of major oral diseases continues to increase with urban growth and changes in living conditions. This is primarily due to insufficient exposure to fluoride (in the water supply and oral hygiene products such as toothpaste), the availability and affordability of foods high in sugar, and the lack of oral health care services in the communities. The marketing of sugary foods and beverages, as well as tobacco and alcohol, has led to increased consumption of products that contribute to oral health and other noncommunicable diseases.

Tooth decay (tooth decay)

Tooth decay results when plaque forms on the surface of the tooth, turning free sugars (all the sugars added to foods by the manufacturer, cook, or consumer, plus sugars naturally found in honey, syrups, and fruit juices) in foods and beverages into acids that destroy the tooth over time. Continued intake of high amounts of free sugars, insufficient exposure to fluoride, and failure to remove plaque through brushing can lead to tooth decay, pain, and sometimes even tooth loss and infection.

Periodontal diseases (gum)

Gum disease affects both the tissues that surround and support the teeth. The disease is characterized by bleeding or swelling of the gums (gingivitis), pain and sometimes bad breath. In the most severe form of the disease, the gums can tear out of the teeth and supporting bones, loosening the teeth and sometimes causing them to fall out. It is estimated that severe periodontal disease affects approximately 19% of the global adult population, accounting for more than 1 billion cases worldwide (1). The main risk factors for gum disease are poor oral hygiene and tobacco use.

Anodontia (total loss of teeth)

Tooth loss is generally the end stage of a long history of oral disease primarily represented by advanced caries and severe gum disease, but may also result from trauma or other causes. The global median prevalence of total tooth loss is approximately 7% among persons aged 20 years and over. The percentage rises to 23% among adults aged 60 years and over, according to estimates. Tooth loss can have psychologically traumatic, socially harmful and functionally limiting effects.

mouth cancer

Oral cancer includes cancers of the lips and other parts of the mouth and oropharynx and together they are the 13th most common type of cancer worldwide. The global incidence of cancers of the lips and oral cavity is estimated at 377 713 new cases and 177 757 deaths in 2020. Oral cancer is more common among men and the elderly, more fatal for men than women, and highly variable according to socioeconomic conditions.

Tobacco, alcohol and areca nut (betel leaf) use are among the main causes of oral cancer. In North America and Europe, HPV infection is responsible for the high incidence of oral cancers among young people.

Oral and dental trauma

Oral and dental trauma results from injury to the teeth, mouth, and oral cavity. Recent estimates indicate that one billion people suffer from oral and dental trauma, and the prevalence rate among children up to the age of 12 is approximately 20%. Oral and dental trauma can be caused by oral factors such as dental misalignment and environmental factors (such as unsafe playgrounds, risky behaviour, road accidents and violence). Treatment is expensive and lengthy and may sometimes lead to tooth loss, which leads to complications related to facial development, psychological development and quality of life.

Noma disease

Noma is a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and face. It mostly affects children between the ages of two and six who are malnourished, contract infectious diseases, or live in extreme poverty with poor oral hygiene or weak immune systems.

Noma is found mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, although cases have also been reported in Latin America and Asia. Noma begins as a soft tissue lesion (ulcer) of the gums. The primary periodontal lesion then progresses to acute necrotizing gingivitis, which progresses rapidly destroying the soft tissues and continuing to include the hard tissues and facial skin.

According to the latest estimates (from 1998) there are 140 000 new cases of noma annually. Unless the disease is treated, it leads to death in 90% of cases (7). Survivors suffer from severe facial disfigurement, difficulty speaking and eating, social stigma, and require complex surgery and rehabilitation. When noma is detected at an early stage, its progression can be quickly halted through basic hygiene, antibiotics and improved nutrition.

Cleft lip and palate

Cleft palate, which is the most common craniofacial congenital anomaly, has a global prevalence of 1 birthIt affects 1 in every 1,000 or 1,500 cases, with wide variation across different studies and populations (1). Genetic predisposition is a major cause of infection. However, maternal malnutrition, tobacco and alcohol use and obesity during pregnancy also play a role. In low-income settings, there is a high mortality rate in the postpartum period. If clefts of the lip and palate are properly treated with surgery, complete rehabilitation becomes possible.

risk factors

Most oral diseases and conditions share modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol use and an unhealthy diet high in free sugars that are common to the 4 major noncommunicable diseases (CVDs, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus).

In addition, diabetes has been shown to be correlated with the incidence and progression of gum disease .There is also a causal relationship between high sugar consumption, diabetes mellitus, obesity and dental caries.

Oral health inequities

Oral diseases disproportionately affect the poor and socially disadvantaged members of society. There is a very strong and close link between socioeconomic status (income, occupation and educational level) and the prevalence and severity of oral diseases. This link is present from early childhood to advancing age and across all population groups in high-, middle- and low-income countries.