The process of examiner calibration is an essential step in all epidemiological research, as it aims to ensure uniform interpretation, understanding, and application of the instrument to be used. This ensures that the data collected will be valid and reliable. This study aimed to determine the differences in concordance in dental caries calibration across three dental specialties. The population consisted of 45 dentists, divided into three groups: 15 general dentists working in the public sector, 15 dentists specializing in Dental Public Health, and 15 dentists specializing in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry. The calibration process was carried out in three stages: theory, calibration using photographs, and calibration on natural teeth, performed by the gold standard. In the first validity process, a statistical difference was only found between the Kappa values of the inter-examiner calibration process using photographs. For the evaluation of teeth, in the second validity process, 33.33% (n = 15) of the participants achieved “almost perfect agreement.” Finally, only 75.56% (n = 34) of the examiners were considered for the reliability report; of this group, 52.94% (n = 18) were in “almost perfect agreement,” and 35.29% (n = 12) were in “substantial agreement.” The validity and reliability of the dental caries experience calibration process did not present significant statistical differences between general dentists in the public sector, dentists specializing in Dental Public Health, and dentists specializing in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry.

Background: It has been documented that the parents’ highest level of education has an impact on their children’s access to oral health services and the frequency of their use.This study aimed to determine the association between time elapsed since peruvian children’s last dental care and head of household educational attainment. Methods: Cross-sectional study using a database of children aged 0 to 11 years, with a final sample of 8012 participants. The dependent variable in this study was the time elapsed since last dental care and the independent variable was the head of household educational attainment. Other covariates considered were natural region, area of residence, place of residence, altitude, wealth index, health insurance coverage, sex and age. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses were applied. Results: Time elapsed since last dental care in the year 2021 was 5.68 years (SD = 5.25). A hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was performed, analyzing the variables dimensions by separate and joint models. When head of household educational attainment was analyzed, there was no statistical significance (p = 0.262); however, other models did (p < 0.05). Model 4, which addresses all dimensions, was significant (p < 0.001) with an R²% of 0.011 and constant equal to 5.788; it showed significance with place of dental care, health insurance, altitude and age. Conclusions: No association was found between head of household educational attainment and time elapsed since last dental care; however, the latter was associated with place of care, health insurance coverage, altitude and age in Peruvian children.

Research in dentistry plays a crucial role in the education and development of professionals while advancing scientific knowledge and continuously improving dental care. This study aimed to characterize research courses within dental programs at universities across Latin America and the Caribbean. A cross-sectional study analyzed 248 curricula from dental programs in the region in 2023. Of the 248 programs reviewed, 178 included a research course, with 16.85% (n=30) originating from Peru. South America had the highest representation, accounting for 74.72%, and 57.87% (n=103) of the research courses were from private institutions. Research courses are concentrated in South America, with Peru leading in the number and percentage of courses. At the institutional level, private universities had a more substantial presence of research courses compared to public institutions. Additionally, the association between the percentage of research courses and the Scimago ranking underscores the importance of research in enhancing academic prestige and driving institutional innovation.

The DMFT index is an optimal tool for assessing dental caries experience over a person's lifetime, necessitating that examiners of these epidemiological indices be properly standardized through a rigorous process such as calibration. The objective of the study was to develop a calibration process for diagnosing dental caries using the DMFT index among three groups of dentists. A cross-sectional study conducted with a population of 15 dentists who volunteered to participate, organized into 3 groups based on their area of practice. The calibration process was conducted both virtually and in-person. Statistical analysis involved calculating validity and reliability values using the Kappa coefficient, with a confidence level of 95% and significance set at p<0.05. For photographic results, Kappa values ranged from 0.55 (p<0.001) to 0.91 (p<0.001) in the first process, and from 0.73 (<0.001) to 1.00 (<0.001) in the second process. For dental assessments, values ranged from 0.20 (p=0.090) to 0.81 (p<0.001) in the first stage, and from 0.31 (p=0.002) to 0.89 (p<0.001) in the second. Out of the initial 15 examiners, 46.67% (n=7) achieved "almost perfect agreement" and 20.00% (n=3) achieved "substantial agreement."

Introduction: dental caries is caused by poor oral hygiene, so it is necessary to have adequate hygiene. The objective of the study was to determine the practice of toothbrushing in Peruvian children under 12 years of age between 2019 and 2021. Methods: a cross sectional, analytical, and retrospective analysis was used by applying the 2019,2020 and 2021 Demographic and Family Health Survey databases. 38 203 records were obtained in 2019, 18 613 in 2020, and 35 759 in 2021. The variables were general, daily , and minimum two times a day toothbrushing, natural region, area and place of residence, altitude, wealth index, health insurance coverage, age, and sex. A descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate statistical evaluation was carried out. Results: t hat gene ral toothbrushing was 94.93% (n=83,032), daily toothbrushing was 86.32% (n=67,753), and at least twice a day was 82.93% (n=53,824). In multivariate form, the year 2020 showed a negative association with daily toothbrushing (RPa: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.96 0.99; p< 0.001) and at least twice a day (RPa: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.95 0.98; p<0.001). The year 2021 revealed a negative association with general toothbrushing (RPa:0.98; 95%CI: 0.97 0.98; p<0.001), daily (RPa:0.97; 95%CI: 0.95 0.98; p<0.001) and minimum twice a day (RP a: 0.94; 95%CI: 0.92 0.96; p<0.001), adjusted for the previously associated covariates. Conclusions: t he studied years were negatively associated with general toothbrushing, daily toothbrushing, and toothbrushing minimum twice daily.