**3. Results**

Our study analysed the prevalence of dental caries, gingival health status, and lesions of oral mucosa in a sample of 200 migrants from middle- and low-income countries. Most participants (62.5%, 124 migrants out of 200) showed a DMFT/dmft Index ≥ 4; 27% of the migrants had a DMFT/dmft Index lower than 4, and only 21 of them (10.5%) were recorded at 0.

A CPI equal to 0 or 1 was observed in 131 patients (65.5%), while only 30 participants presented a CPI equal or higher than 4 (15%), and 19.5% (39 patients) of them were assigned code 2 and 3. The CPI results were low in the selected population.

The DMFT/dmft Index and CPI were on average 5.2 ± 2.23 and 1.4 ± 1.24, respectively (Table 1). Migrants born in Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia had the highest mean values of the DMFT/dmft Index: 9 ± 3, 8, and 8, respectively. Romania had the highest CPI mean

value (1.76 ± 2.32), while patients born in Senegal, Mauritius, Bolivia, Nepal, and Bosnia and Herzegovina had no bleeding after gentle probing (CPI = 0).

Higher mean values of DMFT/dmft Index were recorded in migrants coming from Bangladesh (7.6 ± 3.38), China (7.16 ± 3.43), Egypt (6.11 ± 4.06), Romania (6 ± 3.96), the Philippines (5.41 ± 4.03), El Salvador (5.42 ± 4.74), Albania (5.15 ± 3.5), and Ukraine (5.16 ± 2.79) than in those coming from the remaining countries.

The lowest DMFT/dmft Index mean value was found in migrants whose country of origin was Sri Lanka (1.5 ± 1.5).

Migrants coming from Africa and from Europe were found to have the lowest DMFT/ dmft index (3.8 ± 1.13) and CPI (1.27 ± 0.62), respectively.

Asian countries (China, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia) were recorded to have the highest DMFT/dmft index (6.83 ± 2.82) and a CPI equal to 1.58 ± 1.26. Participants born in Europe (Romania, Albania, Kosovo, Moldavia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, and Turkey) had a DMFT/dmft index higher than those born in Central and South America (Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, and El Salvador): 5.36 ± 1.82 and 4.76 ± 0.92, respectively (Figures 1–4).

Patients whose country of origin was Africa (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Senegal, Cameroon, and Mauritius) showed a lower CPI (1.32 ± 1.3) than those coming from Central and South America (1.75 ± 1.71).

Based on the age range (Table 2), children aged between 3 and 6 years (*n* = 74) had the highest dmft index (6.5 ± 4.1). Adult subjects aged between 21 and 37 years (*n* = 14) had the highest CPI (3.4 ± 2.77). The DMFT/dmft Index in males was higher than in females (5.61 ± 4.10 and 4.5 ± 3.12, respectively), but the CPI was lower in males than in females (1.15 ± 1.67 and 1.45 ± 2.15, respectively) (Table 2). The mean value of the CPI in children and adolescents (3–6/7–12 and 13–20 years old) was equal to 1.01 ± 0.33, showing better periodontal health compared to the enrolled adult patients.

**Figure 1.** DMFT/dmft Index and CPI (means) in African patients.

**Figure 2.** DMFT/dmft Index and CPI (means) in Central and South American patients.

**Figure 3.** DMFT/dmft Index and CPI (means) in European patients.

**Figure 4.** DMFT/dmft Index and CPI (means) in Asian patients.



Only 32 migrants out of 200 had attended university (DMFT/dmft mean value = 4.7 ± 2.8, CPI = 0.8 ± 1.5), 35 subjects had a secondary school degree (DMFT/dmft mean value = 5.7 ± 3.4, CPI mean value = 2.1 ± 2.4), while most of the included migrants had achieved a high school degree (DMFT/dmft mean value = 4.8 ± 3.7, CPI mean value = 1.1 ± 1.8) (Table 3).

**Table 3.** DMFT/dmft Index and CPI: Mean (M) and Standard Deviation (SD) according to Age, Sex, and Education Level.


Significant statistical differences were found in the CPI after adjusting data for the educational level of the included participants (*p*-value < 0.01); on the contrary, the results regarding the DMFT/dmft Index were not significant at *p*-value < 0.01 (Table 4).


\* Results NOT significant at *p* value *p* < 0.01. \*\* Results significant at *p* value *p* < 0.01.

None of the participants presented lesions of the oral mucosa.
