Abstract

Mr. Editor: On several occasions, between the end of 2015 and January 2016, in dental operatives, healthcare and free, presented the opportunity to meet with the residents and representatives of the Navasanuka jungle population and surrounding communities, located in the Lower Delta of the Orinoco River, Antonio Díaz municipality, Delta Amacuro State, Venezuela (LN 09 ° 08 '11.9 "and LO 061 ° 03'31.2"), an area no higher than 2 meters above sea level, with silty soils and tropical climate, with average annual rainfall of 2,221 mm and an average annual temperature of 26.1 ° C1. In these exploratory meetings, it was possible to confirm the oral state and certain habits and beliefs that the patients attended have, of the Warao ethnic group, in terms of health and oral status. Firstly, it was observed that dental caries and edentulism are common characteristics in most of the patients seen in the Dental Service during the operations; from here it is said that villagers wanted to "extract teeth", perform restorations and put on dentures, also appreciating that there is in some residents of this community Warao, the cosmological belief in "evil spirits" that generate the disease, regardless of the conditions of health and habits of dental hygiene, and even some pointed "the power" of some seeds called "Tears of San Pedro", with which they make necklaces, which, according to their belief, are placed on the neck to patients with toothache for that, in an effective way, the pain will be relieved

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