ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Dental Care and
Oral Health Promotion for Children and Adolescents at ULEAM Mobile Dental
Clinic in the Southern Zone of Manabí, during the 2024-1 period
Atención Odontológica y Promoción de la
Salud Bucodental a Niños y Adolescentes en la Clínica Odontológica Móvil de la
ULEAM en la Zona Sur de Manabí, del periodo 2024-1
Karla Herrera Loor1. Luiggy Anchundia
Cañarte2. Carmen
Espinoza Arias3
1 Undergraduate student in Dentistry. Eloy Alfaro Lay
University of Manabí. https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4507-2043
2 Undergraduate student in Dentistry. Eloy Alfaro Lay University of
Manabí. https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6862-4960
3 Specialist in Orthodontics. Faculty member, Eloy Alfaro Lay
University of Manabí. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5720-3795
Correspondence
to: e1312399163@live.uleam.edu.ec
Received: 12/12/2025 Accepted:
10/02/2026
ABSTRACT
Limited access to dental
care services in rural and hard-to-reach communities represents a significant
problem that affects the oral health of children and adolescents, favoring the persistence
of preventable conditions such as dental caries and bacterial plaque
accumulation. In response to this situation, the present study aimed to analyze
the impact of dental care services and oral health promotion provided by the
Mobile Dental Clinic of Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí (ULEAM) on
child and adolescent populations in the southern area of Manabí province during
the 2024 academic period-1. A descriptive observational study was conducted,
with a retrospective cross-sectional design and a qualitative–quantitative
approach, based on the review of clinical records and educational activities
carried out. The results showed significant coverage in hard-to-reach
communities, as well as a reduction in bacterial plaque presence and an improvement
in oral hygiene habits; however, a high prevalence of untreated caries was
identified, especially in the primary dentition. It is concluded that the
Mobile Dental Clinic represents an effective strategy to improve access to oral
health services and strengthen preventive education; however, it is necessary
to reinforce early prevention actions and continuous follow-up to achieve a
sustained impact on children’s oral health.
Keywords: Dental
care. Oral health. Mobile clinic. Health promotion. Children and adolescents.
RESUMEN
La limitada accesibilidad a servicios
de atención odontológica en comunidades rurales y de difícil acceso constituye
una problemática relevante que afecta la salud bucodental de niños y
adolescentes, favoreciendo la persistencia de patologías prevenibles como la
caries dental y la acumulación de placa bacteriana. Frente a esta realidad, el
presente estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar el impacto de los servicios de
atención odontológica y promoción de la salud bucodental brindados por la
Clínica Odontológica Móvil de la Universidad Laica Eloy Alfaro de Manabí
(ULEAM) en poblaciones infantiles y adolescentes de la zona sur de la provincia
de Manabí, durante el periodo académico 2024-1. Se desarrolló un estudio de
tipo observacional descriptivo, con diseño transversal retrospectivo y enfoque cuali-cuantitativo, basado en la
revisión de registros clínicos y actividades educativas realizadas. Los
resultados evidenciaron una cobertura significativa en comunidades de difícil
acceso, así como una reducción en la presencia de placa bacteriana y una mejora
en los hábitos de higiene oral; no obstante, se identificó una elevada
prevalencia de caries no tratadas, especialmente en la dentición temporal. Se
concluye que la Clínica Odontológica Móvil constituye una estrategia eficaz
para mejorar el acceso a servicios de salud bucodental y fortalecer la
educación preventiva; sin embargo, es necesario reforzar las acciones de
prevención temprana y seguimiento continuo para lograr un impacto sostenido en
la salud oral infantil.
Palabras
claves: Atención odontológica. Salud bucodental. Clínica móvil. Promoción de
salud, niños y adolescentes.
INTRODUCTION
Oral health represents a
key approach within the comprehensive concept of health, influencing not only
physical well-being but also the emotional, social, and academic growth major of
children and adolescents. Oral diseases, such as dental caries and periodontal
conditions, are considered highly prevalent public health problems in
childhood, with cumulative effects throughout life if not addressed early
through preventive measures (1). These problems are often the result
of structural factors, such as limited access to dental services, insufficient
health education, poverty, and unhealthy lifestyles (2).
In Latin American countries
such as Ecuador, inequalities in oral health coverage persist, particularly in
rural and urban-marginal areas. According to studies on the social determinants
of oral health, dental care in rural areas is limited, and a high prevalence of
dental caries among school-aged children has been reported, reaching up to 85%
in certain provinces (3). These figures reflect a significant gap in
prevention and access to basic services, a situation that directly affects
school performance, nutrition, and self-esteem.
In this context, public
universities have assumed a transformative role in promoting community health
through social outreach activities, educational programs, and community-based
projects (4). The Eloy Alfaro Lay University of Manabí (ULEAM),
aware of its social responsibility, has implemented a mobile dental clinic as a
primary care model, providing oral health promotion and prevention services.
This clinic travels through vulnerable communities in southern Manabí, offering
preventive consultations, primary care treatments such as fluoridation and
prophylaxis, as well as oral health education activities, including talks and
toothbrushing techniques. This initiative is framed within the family and
community health approach, seeking to reduce access barriers and promote
healthy lifestyles from an early age (5).
The implementation of
mobile clinics as an intervention strategy has proven effective in different
contexts. Various studies indicate that these units improve healthcare
coverage, enable early diagnosis of oral pathologies, and strengthen health
education component, which is essential for achieving sustainable changes in
hygiene habits (6). In the specific case of Manabí, a region
severely affected by the 2016 earthquake and burdened by historical limitations
in healthcare infrastructure, the work of mobile dental clinics is particularly
relevant in promotion and prevention of oral health.
The purpose of this study
is to evaluate the impact of dental care and oral health promotion and
prevention strategies provided by ULEAM Mobile Dental Clinic to children and
adolescents in rural communities in southern Manabí during 2024. The study aims
to identify the main oral pathologies detected, the levels of coverage
achieved, and the effects of educational activities on oral hygiene habits. To
this end, a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional approach is adopted to
support the value of these initiatives within the community health system with
empirical evidence. This research seeks not only to document the outcomes
achieved through the university-led intervention but also to generate
recommendations for the continuous improvement of oral health programs, with
emphasis on prevention, equity, and sustainability. At the same time, it
contributes to strengthening the primary healthcare model, aligned with
national public policies and the Sustainable Development Goals related to child
health and the reduction of inequalities.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This is an observational
descriptive study with a retrospective cross-sectional design and a
qualitative–quantitative approach. The study aims to analyze the
characteristics of the dental care provided, as well as the oral health
promotion actions carried out for children and adolescents treated by ULEAM
Mobile Dental Clinic during the academic period 2024-1. Information was
collected from clinical records and community intervention forms developed
during outreach activities.
Methods
·
Design:
Non-probabilistic convenience sampling was used, including only complete and
valid clinical records containing demographic data, clinical diagnoses,
treatments performed, and preventive activities recorded in field sheets and
Microsoft Excel databases.
·
Population
and sample: A total of 525 minors aged 5 to 14 years who were treated by the
mobile dental clinic in the cantons of Jaramijó, Jipijapa, Manta, Montecristi, and
Portoviejo during the academic period 2024-1.
·
Measurement
procedures: Records of treatments performed for oral health care were
evaluated.
Materials Used
Clinical records of
treatments performed in Microsoft Excel. Dental instruments used to assess the
treatments performed. Statistical software for data review and analysis.
RESULTS
The data used for the
preparation of this study are based on the evaluation of clinical records of
patients who attended the ULEAM Mobile Dental Clinic as part of the Dentistry
program’s community outreach activities during the academic period 2024-1.
Table 1.
Frequency distribution of children and adolescents treated at ULEAM Mobile
Dental Clinic in the southern area of Manabí during the academic period 2024-1,
by gender.
|
Gender |
n |
% |
|
Female |
263 |
50.10 |
|
Male |
262 |
49.90 |
|
Total |
525 |
100 |
Prepared
by: Anchundia & Herrera (2025).
It is evident that, of the
525 children and adolescents treated, 50.10% (n = 263) were female and 49.90%
(n = 262) were male. This distribution reflects a balanced proportion between
both genders, with no relevant differences in the care provided by ULEAM Mobile
Dental Clinic in the southern area of Manabí during the academic period 2024-1.
This indicates that access to dental services was equitable, reaching children
and adolescents of both genders in a similar manner.
Table 2.
Frequency distribution of children and adolescents treated at the ULEAM Mobile
Dental Clinic in the southern area of Manabí during the academic period 2024-1,
by age.
|
Age |
n |
% |
|
5 years |
151 |
29.90 |
|
6 years |
64 |
12.67 |
|
7 years |
44 |
8.32 |
|
8 years |
49 |
9.50 |
|
9 years |
38 |
7.52 |
|
10 years |
38 |
7.13 |
|
11 years |
47 |
8.32 |
|
12 years |
33 |
5.94 |
|
13 years |
38 |
6.53 |
|
14 years |
23 |
4.17 |
|
Total |
525 |
100 |
Prepared
by: Anchundia & Herrera (2025).
Table 2 shows the frequency
distribution of children and adolescents treated at ULEAM Mobile Dental Clinic
in the southern area of Manabí during the academic period 2024-1 by age. Almost
half of the children (47.5%) were between 5 and 7 years old, followed by those
aged 8 to 11 years (36.5%), while 16% of the participants were between 12 and
14 years of age.
Table 3.
Frequency distribution of children and adolescents treated at ULEAM Mobile
Dental Clinic in the southern area of Manabí during the academic period 2024-1,
by canton.
|
City |
n |
% |
|
Manta |
359 |
68.38 |
|
Portoviejo |
17 |
3.22 |
|
Jaramijó |
20 |
3.80 |
|
Montecristi |
2 |
0.40 |
|
Jipijapa |
127 |
24.20 |
|
Total |
525 |
100 |
Prepared
by: Anchundia & Herrera (2025).
Table 3 presents the
distribution of children and adolescents treated by ULEAM Mobile Dental Clinic
in the southern area of Manabí during academic period 2024-1, according to the
canton of origin. The highest number of consultations was concentrated in
the canton of Manta, accounting for 68.38% of total users, reflecting the
strong presence and reach of the service in this locality. This was followed by
the canton of Jipijapa with 24.2%, also indicating
significant coverage. In contrast, Jaramijó,
Portoviejo, and Montecristi registered low
percentages—3.8%, 3.22%, and 0.4%, respectively—which may be attributed to
factors such as fewer visits by the mobile clinic to these areas or the
availability of other local dental services. This distribution allows for the
identification of sectors with higher demand and supports the reinforcement of
coverage strategies in cantons with lower representation.
Table 4. Dental
prophylaxis in children and adolescents treated at ULEAM Mobile Dental Clinic
in the southern area of Manabí during the academic period 2024-1.
|
City |
Dental prophylaxis |
% |
|
Manta |
175 |
69.16 |
|
Portoviejo |
10 |
3.96 |
|
Jaramijó |
18 |
7.12 |
|
Montecristi |
1 |
0.40 |
|
Jipijapa |
49 |
19.36 |
|
Total |
253 |
100 |
Prepared
by: Anchundia & Herrera (2025).
Table 4 shows that the
highest number of dental prophylaxis procedures was performed in the canton of
Manta, accounting for 69.16% of total treatments, followed by Jipijapa with 19.36%. Smaller proportions were recorded in Jaramijó (7.12%), Portoviejo (3.96%), and Montecristi (0.4%).
Table 5.
Fluoride application in children and adolescents treated at ULEAM Mobile Dental
Clinic in the southern area of Manabí during the academic period 2024-1.
|
City |
Fluoride
application |
% |
|
Manta |
93 |
69.92 |
|
Portoviejo |
7 |
5.27 |
|
Jaramijó |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Montecristi |
1 |
0.75 |
|
Jipijapa |
32 |
24.06 |
|
Total |
133 |
100 |
Prepared
by: Anchundia & Herrera (2025).
According to Table 5, the
highest number of fluoride applications was performed in the canton of Manta,
representing 69.92% of cases, followed by Jipijapa
with 24.06%. Minimal percentages were reported in Portoviejo and Montecristi (5.27% and 0.75%, respectively), while no
applications were recorded in Jaramijó.
Table 6. Dental
restorations in children and adolescents treated at ULEAM Mobile Dental Clinic
in the southern area of Manabí during the academic period 2024-1.
|
City |
Dental restoration |
% |
|
Manta |
24 |
64.86 |
|
Portoviejo |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Jaramijó |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Montecristi |
0 |
0.00 |
|
Jipijapa |
13 |
35.14 |
|
Total |
37 |
100 |
Prepared
by: Anchundia & Herrera (2025).
Table 6 reveals that 64.86%
of dental restorations were performed in Manta, while 35.14% were carried out
in Jipijapa. No restorative procedures were recorded
in the cantons of Portoviejo, Jaramijó, or Montecristi.
Table 7.
Sealant application in children and adolescents treated at the ULEAM Mobile
Dental Clinic in the southern area of Manabí during the academic period 2024-1.
|
City |
Sealant
application |
% |
|
Manta |
5 |
100 |
|
Portoviejo |
0 |
0 |
|
Jaramijó |
0 |
0 |
|
Montecristi |
0 |
0 |
|
Jipijapa |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
5 |
100 |
Prepared
by: Anchundia & Herrera (2025).
Table 7 shows that 100% of
sealant applications were performed exclusively in the canton of Manta. No
procedures of this type were recorded in the other cantons served.
DISCUSSION
The results of the present
study allow for an analysis of the impact of ULEAM Mobile Dental Clinic on the
oral health of children and adolescents in southern Manabí and enable
comparison with similar research conducted in rural settings and vulnerable
populations.
The equitable distribution
of patients by gender is consistent with findings reported in previous studies,
which have identified no significant differences in access to mobile dental
services between boys and girls. This reinforces the inclusive nature of this
care model in vulnerable populations (6). This finding supports the
effectiveness of mobile clinics as a strategy to promote equity in child oral
healthcare.
Regarding age, the highest
concentration of care in the 5–7-year age group (47.5%) is consistent with
national and international research indicating that this age group presents
greater vulnerability to dental caries, particularly in primary dentition (7),
due to inadequate oral hygiene habits and limited adult supervision. This
result demonstrates that the mobile clinic is reaching a priority group for the
early prevention of oral pathologies.
With respect to geographic
distribution, the predominance of the canton of Manta as the main recipient of
dental care aligns with studies reporting that mobile clinics tend to
concentrate their interventions in areas with higher population density or greater
logistical accessibility (8). However, this concentration also
reflects unequal coverage in cantons such as Portoviejo and Montecristi,
a situation previously described as one of the main barriers to equitable
access to oral health services in rural communities in Ecuador (9,10).
In terms of preventive
interventions, the high frequency of dental prophylaxis and fluoride
application in Manta and Jipijapa is consistent with
other studies highlighting these procedures as priorities in community programs
due to their low cost and high impact on plaque reduction and caries
prevention. Nevertheless, the low application of dental sealants observed in
this study differs from recommendations in the literature, which identify
sealants as one of the most effective strategies for preventing caries in
permanent molars in the pediatric population (11,12). This finding
suggests the need to strengthen this preventive component.
Finally, the limited
provision of restorative treatments in several cantons is consistent with World
Health Organization recommendations, which indicate that mobile programs tend
to prioritize health promotion and prevention over complex curative treatments.
However, the persistence of untreated caries, particularly in primary
dentition, highlights the need to reinforce follow-up actions and timely
referral mechanisms to achieve a sustained impact on child oral health (13).
Overall, the findings
confirm that ULEAM Mobile Dental Clinic constitutes an effective strategy for
improving access to oral health services and strengthening preventive education
among children and adolescents, in line with reports in the scientific
literature. However, as in other similar contexts, challenges remain related to
territorial equity, continuity of care, and the intensification of early
preventive actions (14).
CONCLUSION
The evaluation of records
from children and adolescents treated by ULEAM Mobile Dental Clinic during the
academic period 2024-1 made it possible to identify an oral health condition
that, while showing progress in terms of coverage and oral hygiene education,
still faces significant challenges in the prevention and effective treatment of
dental caries, particularly in primary dentition.
The concentration of care
in certain localities, the high proportion of untreated caries, and the
presence of plaque in a substantial segment of the pediatric population reveal
the need to strengthen health promotion and prevention strategies, prioritizing
intervention at the earliest stages of life. The study reaffirms the value of
the mobile clinic as a fundamental resource for delivering dental care to
communities with limited access and highlights the importance of maintaining
systematic monitoring of oral health indicators to guide future actions.
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AUTHOR
CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT
“Conceptualization and
design: Karla Herrera and Luiggy Anchundia; Literature review: Luiggy
Anchundia; Methodology and validation: Karla
Herrera; Formal analysis: Karla Herrera; Investigation and data
collection: Karla Herrera and Luiggy Anchundia; Resources: Not applicable; Data analysis
and interpretation: Karla Herrera and Luiggy Anchundia; Writing – original draft preparation: Luiggy Anchundia; Writing –
review and editing: Carmen Espinoza; Supervision: Carmen Espinoza; Project
administration: Not applicable; Funding acquisition: Not
applicable.”
CONFLICTS OF
INTEREST
The authors declare that
there were no conflicts of interest during the conduct of this research. In
addition, the manuscript was submitted exclusively to the Revista
Científica “Especialidades Odontológicas UG” for review and publication.
FUNDING
The authors report that
personal funds were used to carry out this research.
HOW TO CITE:
Herrera,
K. Anchundia, L. Espinoza, C. Dental Care and Oral Health Promotion for Children and Adolescents the
ULEAM Mobile Dental Clinic in the Southern Zone of Manabí, during the 2024-1
period. Revista Científica Especialidades Odontológicas UG. 2026:9(1):15-21