The concept of quality of life (QoL) developed from early studies on subjective wellbeing and satisfaction with life, interpreted as resulting from living conditions, and recognized by means of objective indicators. Indicators have been developed and validated to measure the relationship between quality of life and health Aim: To determine, during an Educational Social Practice, the association between presence of dental caries lesions and its impact on quality of life of adolescents living in rural and urban areas in Argentina. Materials and Method: This was an observational cross-sectional study in (a) a rural area (Tres Isletas; Chaco Province/Schools No. 601 and 477) and (b) an urban area (Villa Soldati; Buenos Aires City/Nuestra Sra. Fátima School). The sample included 40 students from the urban area (UG) and 30 from the rural area (RG). A calibrated researcher (Kappa 0.80) collected the survey data and performed the clinical examinations. The following were recorded: (a) sociodemographic distribution in terms of age and gender; (b) presence of dental biofilm according to Silness and Löe; caries lesions according to ICDAS II /INTCy criteria, and (d) DMFT, total and per component. Quality of life was assessed using the CPQ 11-14r. Statistical processing included calculation of frequency distribution of the variables (X± DS), and chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests to calculate association and comparisons between groups. Results: The sample included 47 girls (67.1%) and 23 boys (32.9%). Distribution according to sex and age did not differ significantly between sites (UG:12.9 years ± 0.5 and RG:11.8 years ±1.1). No significant difference was found between sites for a) plaque biofilm (p=0.759); b) DMFT, total value and per component, or c) individual and grouped ICDAS scores. Percentage analysis of the CPQr 1-14 scores showed significant differences between groups for questionnaire total scores (26.9% ± 2.2 in UG and 4.1% ± 0.8 in RG) and for the different domains. Conclusion: Perceived impact on quality of life caused by dental caries lesions was significantly higher in urban than the rural group, although neither the dental caries process nor the amount of biofilm differed significantly between groups.

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire that allows a systematic evaluation of the impact of self-perceived oral health on expectations of getting a job on adult population seeking dental care, and to describe its associations with demographic characteristics, job related, and health coverage variables. We designed a descriptive cross-sectional study including men and women aged 18 to 65 years from a population seeking dental services in a walk-in clinic. In a first stage we design and validated an instrument on a sample of 100 subjects. The questionnaire was registered in a Likert scale, with higher scores represented higher impact of the oral status self-perception on employability. We calculated internal consistency, construct validity, and domains validation. The final instrument consisted in an 18-item questionnaire (Cronbach α = 0.814), grouped into two domains based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The total variance explained with values >1 was 66 percent, grouping questions into six components. One domain refers to oral health status and importance of dental aesthetics, while the other refers to specific job-seeking elements. In a second stage we applied the questionnaire on 800 participants from the same population of reference. Women, people who intended to change jobs, those younger than 40 years old, having health insurance, and higher educational level showed statistically significant higher scores than their counterparts (p<0.001). We developed a tool that enables evaluating the impact of self-perceived oral health on expectations of getting a job for adults seeking emergency care in a dental clinic.

Aim:To prepare a consensus document of the cariology contents and competences included in the curriculum for the dentistry degree at Argentine dental faculties/schools.Materials and Method:Planning the process in stages: Stage 1- Diagnosis of the situation (Google Form) and invitation to participate extended to the 20 academic units (AU) that offer dentistry degrees. Stage 2- Assessment process of Content (C) and Competences (I) agreements in the five domains: D1 Basic Sciences, D2 Risk and diagnosis of dental caries, D3 Decision-making for non-invasive treatments, D4 Decision-making for invasive treatment, and D5 Evidence-based cariology at community level. Stage 3- Consensus. Stages 2 and 3 were held in Workshop format in virtual mode (W).Results:Stage 1- Of the total 20 Google forms sent to the AU, 13 responses were received: 7 from National Universities and 6 from Private Universities. All participants agreed to be part of the consensus. Stage 2- W: 20 representatives from 10 AU participated. It began with a contextualizing conference, after which the representatives were divided into 5 groups to assess the agreements of each D. Stage 3- The Cariology Curriculum document was organized into 5 Domains, and 23 C and 31 I of clinical application were defined for teaching cariology. The contents and competences for each domain were agreed upon. The final document was sent to all W participants for their approval and dissemination in each AU involved.Conclusion:Cariology contents were defined for dentistry students at Universities in the Argentine Republic.

Introduction Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) measures can be used in mentally impaired groups to evaluate the consequences of oral health treatments. The objective of this study was to describe the impact of a prosthetic rehabilitation treatment on oral health-related quality of life in psychiatric adults in the process of deinstitutionalization. Methodology We designed a quasi-experimental study to assess the OHRQoL of patients with mental disorders before and after prosthetic treatment on a sample of 165 institutionalized neuropsychiatric patients between 18 and 65 years of age (x=50.24 y.o.; SD= 7.85). Before treatment, the validated Spanish version of OHIP-14 was filled out by each participant. Caries experience was assessed using the DMFT index. Sex, age, type of mental disorder, length of hospitalization, and permanence in a deinstitutionalization program were registered. The diagnoses of the psychiatric pathologies were transcribed from the medical records, following the DSM-IV criteria. The therapeutic intervention consisted in manufacturing and installing partial and complete removable acrylic prostheses, according to each patient’s needs. Results The sample had a DMFT index mean of 19.71 (SD=5.54). Missing teeth represented 86.86% of the total of the DMFT index. The OHIP-14 score before the intervention had a mean value of 26.06 (SD=8.74). After the prosthetic treatment, the OHIP-14 score had a mean value of 7.70 (SD=3.96). The statistical analysis revealed a significant difference between pre and post treatment intervention (p= 0.018). Conclusion This study showed that oral rehabilitation affected the oral health-related quality of life of patients with psychiatric disorders included in a social integration program.

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar los procesos de comunicación desencadenados en la extensión universitaria como herramienta para la traslación de conocimientos y la toma de decisiones político–sanitarias tendientes al cumplimiento de la misión de las instituciones educativas. Se aborda la importancia de la comunicación para la salud en los componentes del proceso de gestión del conocimiento (gestión política, de la información y de los contenidos) y se describen modelos tendientes al aprendizaje relevante, pertinente y significativo. El análisis de casos de práctica social en la extensión universitaria de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad de Buenos Aires, donde se aplica el modelo para la construcción social de conocimientos mediante acuerdos deliberativos iterativos e interactivos entre los actores sociales, permite construir la hipótesis de que este modelo favorece la traslación de conocimientos para la toma de decisiones político–sanitarias.

Esta reflexión plantea una auto interpelación e instala a la odontología –mi odontología– en el escenario global de la salud. Cada pregunta formulada reproduce una certeza contemplada o vivida; cada hipótesis representa una duda esperanzada. Los actores de la odontología deberemos dar respuestas a las preguntas que nos formula el siglo XXI porque “la salud global se construye mediante un préstamo que nos está haciendo el mañana”.

Various theories have endeavored to explain how knowledge is accessed. Students, in order to learn, need a good repertoire of appropriate metacognitive and self-regulating strategies and knowledge, which they use consciously or unconsciously. Teachers, in addition to knowing how to teach, need to be aware of students' learning strategies, metacognition, and self-regulation, and of the impact of changes associated with recent pandemic scenarios.AIM:The aim of this study was to identify the study strategies preferred by dental students in two different scenarios: prior to and during the pandemic.MATERIALS AND METHOD:The sample consisted of third-year dentistry students at Buenos Aires University (UBA) during 2019 (Group GP, 141 students, face-toface activity) and 2021 (Group GE, 60 students, e-learning during the pandemic). Participants were asked (a) to provide demographic information (sex and age) and (b) to answer the abridged ACRA scale. Statistical treatment included descriptive tests; Chi2, binomial exact and Student's t-test (p<0.05).RESULTS:The proportion of students who participated with respect to total students enrolled was 58.50% in 2019 and 26.20% in 2021, with female gender being significantly higher. There were significant differences in total number of participants during the different periods (p=0.001), and in gender distribution during the pandemic (p=0.007). Comparison between groups GP and GE showed no significant difference regarding preferences expressed in total values for the scale or for the domains. Analysis of preferences according to gender showed significant differences in total group (p=0.007) and the domains CLCS (Cognitive and Learning Control Strategies) (p= 0.008) and LSS (Learning Support Strategies) (p=0.002). The mean values of preferences selected by females were higher. Similar results were found upon analyzing preferences during the pandemic (n= 60) considering total score (p= 0.033) and the domains CLCS (p= 0.035) and LSS (p= 0.007).CONCLUSIONS:The study identified trends towards an increase in the score and consequently greater use of techniques included in the domains related to metacognition, especially among women. There is potential neutralization of the impact created by the methodological shift between the two periods (face-to-face and e-learning) probably as a result of the implicit adaptability, latent in students, regarding digital methodology, which enables them to adapt to learning in challenging situations.

To assess the impact of oral conditions on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in infants in ten Latin America countries (LAC). A cross-sectional study was conducted with 930 pairs of 1-to-3-year-old children/parents from 10 LAC, as a complementary study of the Research Observatory for Dental Caries of the Latin American Region. The scale ECOHIS, previously tested and valid in ten countries, was applied to parents/caregivers of children to measure OHRQoL. Statistical analysis included descriptive data analysis and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA-One-Way) were performed to compare age groups with OHRQoL. Bootstrapping procedures (1000 re-samplings; 95%CI Bca) were performed. The mean scores of the 'Child Impact' section in the LAC was 4.0(±8.3), in the 'Family Impact' section was 2.0(±4.0), and in overall ECOHIS score was 6.0(±12.0). In the 'Child Impact' section, Argentina 10.0(+2.4) and Venezuela 17.8(±17.5) demonstrated mean scores higher than the LAC total data. In the 'Family Impact' section, the countries with higher mean scores were Argentina 4.9(±2.0), Ecuador 2.1(±3.1) and Venezuela 7.9(±7.8). In the overall ECOHIS score, Argentina 15.1 (±4.1) and Venezuela 25.7(±25.2) has higher mean scores than the values of LAC. There is an association between children's age and parents' report of impact on the OHRQoL (p<0.001). Three-year-olds had a higher mean when compared to one- and two-year-olds, both in the Impact on the Child and Impact on the Family (p<0.001) sections, as well as in the overall ECOHIS (p<0.001). In conclusion, there are differences in OHRQoL among Latin American countries, impacting older children more significantly.

The objective of this study was to establish the correlation between an index for caries treatment needs and an index for caries lesions detection and evaluation. A cross-sectional study was performed on three samples of children aged 3 (n = 302), 5 (n = 183), and 11-14 years old (n = 60), attending early childhood centers and schools in the cities of Avellaneda, Rio Grande, and Buenos Aires. Dental caries treatment needs were estimated on every child through the Caries Treatment Needs Index (CTNI) for programming resources allocation. Also, a diagnosis of dental caries was made according to ICDAS II criteria. After the diagnostic procedures, a dental care program was developed. The ICDAS II variable was operationalized by grouping the codes into four categories: G1: code 0; G2: code 1-2; G3: code 3; G4: code 4-5-6. Measures of central tendency and dispersion were calculated for both variables, and the correlation was calculated using the Spearman coefficient. Results revealed that in the group of 3-year-old children, a significant correlation was observed in G1 (rho = -0.822); G2 (rho = 0.330); G3 (rho = 0.509) and G4 (rho = 0.710) between both indexes. For the group of 5-year-old children, a significant correlation was observed in G1 (rho = -0.821); G2 (rho = 0.260); G3 (rho = 0.344) and G4 (rho = 0.840). In the group of children 11-14 years of age, a significant correlation was observed in G1 (rho = -0.692); G3 (rho = 0.437) and G4 (rho = 0.764). The indices analyzed in this study (CTNI and ICDAS II) show reasonable equivalence for use in clinical and epidemiological studies based on the statistical analysis.

In this study, comprehensive clinics (CC) are interpreted as a pragmatic projection of the complexity of health. The aim of the study was to analyze the characteristics of the CCs at different schools of dentistry in Argentina. Data were collected from document analysis and interviews with key respondents at 8 universities, classified according to the criteria of Bray and Thomas. Interviews were developed and analyzed according to discourse analysis. The convergences and divergences among curricula were established and analyzed statistically. Triangulation of results showed that: (a) Most curricula (7/8) included subjects called CC; (b) the permanence of CCs in the curricula was not stable, with changes recorded in different periods; and (c) in the so-called CCs, the complex clinical approach showed frequent displacements based on teacher values or competence. It was concluded that there are divergences between theory and practice, and that it would be recommendable to have more rigorous curricular design taking into account current trends regarding the complexity of health and its transfer to educational management.

Learning strategies are a set of organized, conscious, intentional tasks performed by a student to achieve a learning objective effectively in a given social context. The aim of the present study was to determine the type and frequency of use of different learning strategies among students taking the subject "Comprehensive Clinic II ", which corresponds to the 3rd year of the 6-year general syllabus of the undergraduate course at the School of Dentistry, Buenos Aires University, and to analyze the use of these learning strategies according to the number of years elapsed between each students admission to dental school and the time he/she took that subject. Dental students (n=189) filled in the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI). Seventy-five percent were female. The tool includes 10 dimensions, organized in 77 items. Responses to each question were recorded using a Likert type scale (5 choices). Total scores were obtained by assigning values to the responses. The students were grouped according to time elapsed from year of admission to dental school to the year in which they took the subject (Institutional Persistence, TI). Statistical analysis included mean and confidence intervals for scores (total and for each domain) and comparisons among TI groups using one-way ANOVA and Tukeys post hoc test. Total score for the sample was 275.3 (71.5% of maximum possible score). There were differences in the use of learning strategies reported by dental students in the tool. Students with shorter institutional persistence times scored higher in the following dimensions: attitude and interest, motivation, selfdiscipline, willingness, self-testing and reviewing.

El objetivo de este documento es estimular un análisis basado en la evidencia acerca de la salud para todos. Está destinado a profesionales quienes, desde sus propias prácticas, operacionalizan y regulan frecuentemente, la atención de salud. Se describen los antecedentes acerca de las diversas conceptualizaciones desarrolladas por instituciones e investigadores sobre el tema hasta arribar a la perspectiva actual. Entender esta perspectiva implicará incorporar los desafíos propios del pensamiento complejo, ya que en ella confluyen los requisitos de equidad, interdisciplinariedad, intersectorialidad, transnacionalidad, las incertidumbres que crean las transformaciones de los contextos y las exigencias para cumplir eficazmente su cometido. Entre los actores en este escenario están las universidades quienes enfrentan la responsabilidad que les compete para dar cumplir con su misión social y cívica en la generación, difusión y aplicación de conocimientos tendientes a la salud para todos.

Lack of communication between the medical and dental professions impacts healthcare quality, especially in hospitals. Different authors have described the oral status of inpatients. Following that line of research, the current study set the following aims: to characterize the dynamics of medical-dental healthcare interaction at a university hospital and to describe oral status and identify need for dental treatment in a sample of 150 inpatients at a hospital in Buenos Aires City, Argentina.A descriptive study was conducted on patients who were referred to dentistry by their physicians. The following variables were surveyed: personal data, medical history, oral health status, need for dental treatment and oral self-care habits.Patient median age was 60 years, 60.7% were male, 68.7% had diseases of the circulatory system, average number of medications per day was 7, of which 28.1% were for the cardiovascular system. Seventy percent of the referrals came from the Cardiology Service and 48% were requested for preoperative evaluation. Percentage of visible plaque was 73.6% and bleeding on probing 75.4%. DMFT was 19.9; 57.3% of patients had periodontal pockets deeper than 4 mm, and 97.2% required surgery, endodontic or prosthetic rehabilitation treatments. The frequency of daily brushing decreased during hospitalization: 28.7% reported not brushing daily and only 5.3% reported brushing 3 times a day. Referrals to dentistry came mainly from the cardiology service in pre-surgical situations. Inpatients presented high levels of oral pathology and need for dental treatment.

The objective of this document is to stimulate an evidence-based analysis on health for everybody. It is intended for professionals who, from their own practices, frequently operationalize and regulate health care. Diverse conceptualizations on the subject developed by institutions and researchers are described until we reach the current perspective. Understanding this perspective will involve incorporating the challenges inherent in complex thinking, since the requirements of equity, interdisciplinarity, intersectoriality, transnationality, the uncertainties created by the transformations of the contexts and the demands to effectively fulfill its mission converge in it. Among the actors in this scenario we find universities which face the responsibility to fulfill their social and civic mission in the generation, diffusion and application of knowledge aiming at health for everybody.

Este artículo toma como objeto de estudio la extensión universitaria en el campo de la salud a partir de un marco teórico–metodológico sustentado en la conceptualización de salud como una construcción social compleja, en el modelo constructivista para la generación de conocimientos y en la necesidad de evaluar el impacto social de las intervenciones. Se desarrolla respondiendo a tres cuestiones: (a) la extensión universitaria en sus diferentes modalidades, (b) la naturaleza y la generación de conocimientos interdisciplinarios y (c) los procesos de enseñanza y de aprendizaje vigentes en la educación superior. Tiene como objetivos: identificar y describir los deslizamientos conceptuales producidos en los componentes estructurales y metodológicos de la extensión universitaria y analizar el impacto social producido como resultado de la aplicación de la Práctica Social curricular y del desarrollo de redes estratégicas en escenarios diversificados, por iniciativa de la Cátedra de Odontología Preventiva y Comunitaria de la Facultad de Odontología desde 1984 y del Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud Pública de la Universidad de Buenos Aires.

El marco teórico–metodológico desde el cual se formula este documento plantea que la vinculación se construye articulando las múltiples expresiones y demandas sociales con las formas de producción del conocimiento y las nuevas maneras deorganizarlos, distribuirlos e intercambiarlos en los escenarios del equipamiento social. Sus espacios naturales de intervención son aquellos donde se genera el conocimiento y se forman los recursos humanos y en ellos se la programa, ejecuta y evalúa confrontando la teoría en la práctica. En el contexto mundial, laresponsabilidad social y cívica de las universidades ha adquirido un protagonismo que la posiciona en la indelegable interacción investigación–docencia–servicio y no como un componente marginal a la investigación y a la docencia. Por lo tanto,analizar la extensión universitaria implica reflexionar sobre la práctica docente, sobre los criterios de calidad y pertinencia que se aplican al evaluar la investigación y sobre el impacto social de sus intervenciones en los escenarios donde opera.El objeto de este informe es analizar, atendiendo a ese marco, los componentes estructurales de la extensión, los procesos de su inclusión curricular y los resultados obtenidos en términos de productos e impacto producido en el campo de la salud en una experiencia desarrollada por la Universidad de Buenos Aires.

Neobalantidium coli (Pomajbíková et al., 2013) is a cosmopolitan ciliate which colonizes the intestine of humans and animals. Pigs are the most important host and reservoir for this parasite, although others mammals have been described. Humans can acquire the disease through the ingestion of water and food contaminated with cysts and even from person to person contact. Farmers and slaughterhouse workers from rural areas of developing countries have an increased incidence of balantidiosis. In Argentina, despite swine production on family farms covers 70% of domestic consumption requirements; there is a lack of veterinary animal health planning which result in high rate of animal mortality, as well as environmental risk due to inefficient facilities and mismanagement of manure and effluents. At present there are no epidemiological data on balantidiosis in Argentina, except for isolated reports. Therefore, the aims of this study were to establish the frequency of N. coli in pigs raised under different conditions and to explore the zoonotic potential. In order to confirm the identity of Neobalantidium coli like-cysts founded in the feces, a set of N. coli specific primers based on 18S rRNA gene sequences was designed. The molecular identification of N. coli was performed in 88.9% (16 out of 18) of swine stool samples in which cysts had been visualized. The fecal samples obtained from pigs raised on more open farmland showed a lower percentage of N. coli than those obtained from animals raised in swine pens. On the other hand, molecular identification of N. coli was also performed in human feces. Pairwise comparison of sequences obtained from pigs and human fecal samples from the NW Region of Argentina showed a high percentage of similarity, indicating a possible zoonotic transmission.