Índice periodontal comunitario en adultos del cantón Cañar según el nivel de educación.

Abstract

The oral cavity is composed of structures that protect the teeth, which can be affected by various factors. Periodontal disease is an oral health problem in adults due to its increasing prevalence and the rise in tooth loss. Objective: To determine the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) in adults in the canton of Cañar according to their educational level. Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach was conducted with a sample of 327 patients, where a socioeconomic survey and oral health record were applied, and examinations were carried out using a WHO periodontal probe to collect data that was validated by Cronbach’s alpha. The community periodontal index contains codes to evaluate each patient’s dental units. Results: The prevalence of CPI in adults in the canton of Cañar was 44%; the association with gender showed that there is a 40% disease in men with gingival hemorrhage, calculus, and bags, whereas 68% of women showed periodontal health; the relationship between CPI and educational level is low; adults in the age range of 35–64 years showed a higher prevalence of periodontal disease compared with those aged 18–31 years. Conclusion: The association between CPI and educational level is significant (p = 0.00019), identifying that the majority of the population (53.94%) had primary education, indicating that education is considered important for oral health care. Keywords: community periodontal index, periodontal health, periodontal disease, adults, educational level