Clinical, oral and sociodemographic characterization of a vulnerable community

Abstract

NTRODUCTION: Padre Rodolfo Ricciardelli is the largest emergency in terms of territory and population
of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. It originated from the merger of villas 1, 11 and 14 in 1930.Its
inhabitants came from the from the interior of Argentina and neighboring countries. The Santa María Madre
del Pueblo Parish has been the main church of the neighborhood since 1975. In it, Pope Francis gave one
of his last masses as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. The Instituto Parroquial Santa María Madre del
Pueblo, an educational institution of primary and secondary level, depends on it.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the oral health status and sociodemographic characteristics of the population
of the 1-11-14 neighborhood of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires that was attended in the framework
of an interdisciplinary field experience organized by the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the Pontifical
Catholic University of Argentina.
MATERIAL AND METHOD: Cross-sectional descriptive study that included the population with a
complete medical history and informed consent that attended for dental check-up. Sociodemographic data
and data related to risk conditions and dietary and oral care habits were obtained by means of a selfadministered questionnaire. Indices of need for treatment and CPOD according to WHO criteria were
recorded. The diagnosis was carried out by dental students under teaching supervision with natural light
and examination instruments.
RESULTS: Of the total population that received a dental check-up, the majority presented health coverage
through the public health system, precarious housing conditions, high social vulnerability and high
prevalence of caries lesions and gingivoperiodontal pathologies.
CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the characteristics of the oral and socioeconomic status of vulnerable
populations is essential to promote the development of field experiences related to dental university
outreach that promote the acquisition of oral health skills