Managing dental caries with atraumatic restorative treatment in children: successful experience in three Latin American countries.

Objective: To compare survival rates and cost differentials between the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) technique and amalgams by type of dental personnel in Ecuador, Panama, and Uruguay.

Methods: Children 7 to 9 years of age in rural and urban schools with at least one lesion with initial cavitated enamel caries or a dentinal lesion on a first permanent molar were selected and randomized into the ART (intervention) or amalgam (control) group. Restoration failure was evaluated at 12 and 24 months.

Integrating oral health into Haiti's National Health Plan: from disaster relief to sustainable development.

In 2010, Haiti suffered three devastating national emergencies: a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that killed over 200 000 and injured 300 000; a cholera outbreak that challenged recovery efforts and caused more deaths; and Hurricane Tomas, which brought additional destruction. In the aftermath, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reoriented its technical cooperation to face the myriad of new challenges and needs.

[Pilot study of oral health policy and HIV].

Objective: To obtain and evaluate information on national oral health policies regarding patients with HIV/AIDS in the countries of the Americas.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using an online questionnaire designed to be completed by the national oral health officials in the Region.

Results: Of the 38 countries that were asked to participate, only 12 (31.

The global burden of oral diseases and risks to oral health.

This paper outlines the burden of oral diseases worldwide and describes the influence of major sociobehavioural risk factors in oral health. Despite great improvements in the oral health of populations in several countries, global problems still persist. The burden of oral disease is particularly high for the disadvantaged and poor population groups in both developing and developed countries.