Aspectos sociales y biológicos del edentulismo en México: un problema visible de las inequidades en salud

Resumen

Objective: To analyse edentulism in Mexico as evidence of health care inequality, resulting in the lack of dental treatment related to caries and periodontal disease (PD). Materials and methods: A review was made of available government documents (databases, epidemiological studies, reports) regarding oral health status and treatment in Mexico. Entitled, non-entitled, rural, urban, and indigenous groups of different States of the country were studied. As reference for the analysis to demonstrate inequity, 12 year-old children and older people with caries and PD, and dental treatment were considered. Results: Total edentulism was detected from the age of 20 years due to caries or PD. Treatment was unequal in the whole country. The most vulnerable population had fewer dental services, which were limited and mutilation-oriented. Conclusion: Edentulism is a complex problem in Mexico that combines social and biological elements. It is evidence of health care inequalities as it is a problem with quality of life repercussions (particularly for vulnerable groups) that can be prevented. © 2016 Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana. Published by Masson Doyma Mexico S.A. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/