Prevalence of partial edentulism according to Kennedy and Applegate in patients treated at a university dental clinic in Lambayeque-Peru

Abstract

Introduction: Edentulism is an irreversible chronic condition that seriously affects the stomatognathic system. Consequently, determining its prevalence may contribute to prioritize preventive and rehabilitative oral health interventions. Objective: To determine the prevalence of partial edentulism according to the Kennedy and Applegate classification in patients attending the Dental Clinic at Universidad San Martín de Porres - Lambayeque Campus, Peru, in the years 2016 and 2017. Materials and methods: A descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study was designed. The study comprised 321 clinical records that previously underwent a quality control stage, which included a calibration process (k=0.86). The criteria and rules proposed by Kennedy and Applegate were applied to estimate the prevalence of edentulism in each jaw according to sex; tables of frequency distribution containing percentage results were used. Results: The highest prevalence of partial edentulism in the upper jaw corresponded to Class III (42.4%), followed by Class I (34.6%), and Class II (16.5%). In the lower jaw, the most prevalent were Class I (42.4%), Class III (36.4%), and Class II (15.6%). According to sex, Class III and Class I were the most prevalent in both females and males. Conclusion: Class III and I were the most prevalent in the upper jaw in both females and males; while in the lower jaw, Classes I and III were the most prevalent for both sexes.

Keywords

• oral health
• partial edentulous jaw
• prevalence
• epidemiology