Oral health in SFR Yugoslavia in 1986

Dental Caries Experience in Children in Public Kindergartens of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

OBJECTIVES

Dental caries first occurs within primary dentition in toddlers and preschool children, in a form of early childhood caries (ECC). In every day's busy and employment burdened parenting, caretakers and institutions have become important even more nowadays, not only for forming child general behavior and character, but also for maintenance of their general and oral health as well.

AIMS

To evaluate the presence and severity of ECC in children who attended public kindergartens in Sarajevo, and to offer basic information for the maintenance and improvement of child oral health to their parents and kindergarten teachers.

METHODS

The study included 1722 preschool children aged 3-6 years who attended kindergartens within Sarajevo public kindergarten institution, together with their parents and kindergarten teachers. Dental team members gradually visited all kindergartens situated in four Sarajevo city municipalities and examined kindergarten children according to the WHO Oral Health Survey Manual. Oral health promotion material for parents and kindergarten teachers was also distributed simultaneously during sequential visits.

RESULTS

ECC was present in preschool kindergarten children in Sarajevo, with its high prevalence (67.71%); dmft-value (3.97) and severity (SiC index 8.79). There was also a significant lack of dental healthcare to examined children mostly related to lack of visiting dental offices by children's parents (CI=10.55%, RI=10.80%, TI=12.98%).

CONCLUSION

Parental role in preserving and improving of their children oral health should be systematically and profoundly improved. Kindergarten officials and staff should recognize the importance of anticariogenic diet menus and oral hygiene maintenance within their institutions.

Oral Health in 12- and 15-Year-Old Children in Serbia: A National Pathfinder Study

The aim of the paper is to present the oral health profile of 12- and 15-year-old schoolchildren in Serbia. Basic Methods for Oral Health Surveys of the WHO were implemented to record: Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth/Surfaces Index (DMFT/DMFS), gingival bleeding, enamel fluorosis and other structural anomalies, dental erosion, dental trauma, and oral mucosal lesions. In addition, Silness and Löe plaque index and orthodontic status were assessed. A total of 36% of 12-year-olds and 22% of 15-year-olds in Serbia were caries-free. The mean DMFT was 2.32 ± 2.69 for 12-year-olds and 4.09 ± 3.81 for 15-year-olds. DMFT was made up largely by the decayed component. Gingival bleeding was present in 26% of examined 12-year-old and 18% of 15-year-old children. Dental plaque was observed in 63% of both 12- and 15-year-olds. Fluorosis, structural anomalies, dental erosion, dental trauma, and oral mucosal lesion were rarely detected. Low prevalence of malocclusions was found. Oral disease is still a common public health problem among schoolchildren in Serbia. A significant increase in the prevalence of caries disease between 12- and 15-year-old groups implies that preventive care for adolescents requires special attention. Corrective actions and reforms to the current school-based oral health prevention program are needed to further improve oral health in Serbian children.

Prevalence of dental caries in the municipality gorazde during the period 2007-2012

Introduction:

Dental caries today, regardless of known multi causal etiology of the disease and the possibility of its effective prevention still represents the most widespread disease of our civilization, which affects about 95% of our population. It affects all populations and age groups and is a disease that is very difficult to completely eradicate due to a complex interaction of biological factors, eating habits, social status Etc.

Goal:

Goal is to report the prevalence of dental caries, DMFT-index and DMFT index in the first and seventh grades of grammar school in the municipality Gorazde during the last six years.

Material and methods:

Children, which have yet to enroll in school and in the seventh grade children, have required medical examinations. A total of 1198 first grade and 1666 seventh-grade students are included. To determine the prevalence of dental caries DMFT was used. Examinations are carried out in accordance with the methodology and criteria of the WHO, by a dental mirror and dental probe.

Results:

The prevalence of dental caries is extremely high as well as the values of DMFT index in the first and seventh grades in the municipality Gorazde.

Conclusion:

In practice it is necessary to introduce prevention programs for pregnant women, toddlers, preschool and school-aged children with a wider use of the mass media.

Caries prevalence among schoolchildren in Zagreb, Croatia

AIM

To investigate the prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs in schoolchildren aged 7-14 years from Zagreb.

METHODS

Dental examinations based on the World Health Organization criteria were performed on 1168 children in the period 2009-2010. The teeth were clinically examined with standard dental instruments using visual-tactile method under standard dental light. We recorded the clinical indexes of decayed, missed, and filled teeth (DMFT and dmft; upper-case letters refer to permanent and lower-case letters to primary teeth) and decayed, missed, and filled surfaces (DMFS), as well as the significant caries index (SiC).

RESULTS

The median DMFT and DMFS of all children were 3 and 4, respectively. The median DMFT and DMFS of 12-year-old children were 4 and 5, respectively. The highest median DMFT score of 7 was found among 14-year-old children. There was a significant difference between age groups (7-10 years and 11-14 years) in DMFT and DMFS. Among 8-year-old children, the median dmft index was the highest (5.5) and SiC index was 7.4. As far as the location of caries on the surface of the first permanent molar is concerned, caries occurred mostly in the central occlusal surface (27.6%).

CONCLUSION

Our results showed a high caries prevalence among schoolchildren in Zagreb, indicating a need for an extensive program of primary oral health care.

[The state of oral health in children at the age of 12 in Montenegro]

BACKGROUND/AIM

Oral health is very important for the function and the quality of human life. The aim of this study was to determine the spread of caries on the permanent teeth, the state of health of the periodontium and the state of oral hygiene in the children at the age of 12 in Montenegro.

METHODS

The research was carried out within 2006 and included 455 primary school pupils of both sex, the age of 12 in the northern, midlle and southern area of Montenegro. The parameters used to estimate oral health condition were: mean number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth due to caries (DMFT), Significant Caries Index (SiC), Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN), presence of sealants, and to estimate oral hygiene condition: Debris Index (Green-Vermillion) and Calculus Index (Green). A dental team clinically examined all the subjects in line with World Health Organization (WHO) methodology and criteria. All chosen children from the sample were checked by the standard dental diagnostic equipment (plane dental mirror, dental, standard CPITN periodontal probe) under the artificial light on the dry teeth, on the dental chair.

RESULTS

The average value of Index DMFT at 12-year-old in Montenegro was 3.43. On average, 88.35% of the examined children had dental caries. The SiC Index was 6.35. Among the examined children, 11.9% had at least one tooth with a fissure sealant. The healty periodontium had 64% of the 12-year-old children. The average value of Debris Index was 1.086, and the average value of Calculus Index was 0.6508.

CONCLUSION

Oral health condition in children at the age of 12 in Montenegro does not satisfy. Thus the importance of the modern preventive measures and programmes should be emphasized and applied through the system of primary oral protection and intensively promote oral health.

Caries risk assessment in Bosnian children using Cariogram computer model

AIM

To examine caries risk using the Cariogram model, interactive PC program for caries risk evaluation in 12-year-old children and to correlate caries risk in children of different socioeconomic backgrounds.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

109, Sarajevo 12-year-olds in three groups based on socioeconomic background. Baseline data on general health condition, diet frequency and use of fluoride were obtained. DMFT and plaque scores were calculated. Saliva analyses included lactobacillus and mutans streptococci levels in saliva, saliva secretion and buffer capacity. Scores were entered into the Cariogram model and risk was calculated for each child.

RESULTS

Most 12-year-old children have a medium risk of caries, with a 59.4% chance of avoiding future caries. In an average caries risk profile of children from Sarajevo the dominant sector is diet, with 12.5% risk; bacteria sector (plaque and mutans streptococci level) 10.8% risk; susceptibility (fluoride, saliva secretion and buffering capacity) 9.7% risk; circumstances (caries experience and medical history) 7.4% risk. Caries risk profiles showed that there are differences in the socioeconomic status of children with significantly greater risk in children with poor living conditions who also have the most unfavourable caries risk profiles.

CONCLUSIONS

The Cariogram model can successfully determine caries risk profiles for 12-year-old children of different socioeconomic status and can be used in developing preventive strategies for reducing caries risk in children.

Aspects of tooth decay in recently arrived refugees

OBJECTIVE

To measure and compare the prevalence and distribution of tooth decay among two refugee groups recently arrived in Australia.

METHOD

The study included refugees aged 15-44 years from Iraq and the former Yugoslavia and random, age-matched social security recipients attending for emergency dental care in 1996.

RESULTS

In younger persons, former Yugoslavian refugees had significantly greater decay experience than Iraqis and emergency care recipients. Refugees had significantly more untreated decay than emergency care recipients and a similar distribution of untreated decayed teeth, with only 15% having none and more than 10% having high decay levels. More than 33% of emergency care recipients had no untreated decay and less than 5% had high levels.

CONCLUSION

Significant differences were found between refugees and emergency dental care recipients, with refugees having a higher prevalence and more uniform distribution of untreated decay.

IMPLICATIONS

Consistent with public health objectives, the finding that refugees had significantly more untreated decay than other disadvantaged Australians provides support for improved access to dental care during the settlement period.

Oral health status and treatment needs in immigrants and refugees in Italy

The caries prevalence, oral hygiene status, periodontal health and the treatment needs were assessed in immigrants and refugees in Catanzaro and Crotone, Italy. The mean DMFT and DMFS scores of adults, 18 or more years, were 8.1 and 33.1 for Yugoslavs, 7.4 and 28.8 for Moroccans, and 1.4 and 4.5 for Senegalese. The analysis of variance carried out on the three groups showed a significant inequality in their DMFT and DMFS scores. The stepwise linear regression showed that in the Moroccans and Yugoslavs the DMFT increased with age. The needs for dental extractions and for conservative dental care were respectively 15.8% and 39.5% in the Senegalese, 28.6% and 73.8% in the Yugoslavs, 32.7% and 77% in the Moroccans. Good oral hygiene status was scored for 26.3% Senegalese, 7.1% Yugoslavs, and 5.5% Moroccans. Good periodontal health was scored for 7.9%, 2.4%, and 1.2% of these groups. The analysis of variance carried out on the three groups showed a significant inequality in their OHI-S and PI, and the Bonferroni test showed a significant differences in both indices comparing the Senegalese with the Moroccans and in the OHI-S between Senegalese and Yugoslavs. The stepwise linear regression showed that in the Yugoslavs the OHI-S and in the Moroccans and Yugoslavs the PI increased with age. The results of this investigation demonstrated high caries prevalence, poor oral hygiene and periodontal health, and unmet needs for dental treatment in particular Moroccans and Yugoslavs, and a systematic and comprehensive implementation of oral health promotion program for these groups is a priority need.

Oral health status among schoolchildren in Romania, 1992

In Romania, systematic information on the occurrence of oral diseases in children is scarce. The purpose of the present study was to describe the prevalence and the pattern of dental caries in schoolchildren, and to use the data to provide a baseline for planning and evaluation of oral health care. A national sample of children at grade 1 (n = 729) and grade 6 (n = 660) was chosen consistent with the WHO pathfinder principle. Clinical examinations were carried out according to the recording system for the Danish Municipal Dental Service and the following results were obtained. In children of grade 1 (7-yr-olds) the prevalence proportion of caries in primary teeth was 86% and in permanent teeth 39%. The mean caries indices were 11.4 defs and 1.3 DMFS. At grade 6 (12-yr-olds) the prevalence proportion of caries in primary teeth was 17% and in permanent teeth 90%. The mean caries experience was 0.8 defs and 6.5 DMFS, and a mean of 4.1 DMFT was observed. In both groups, the D-component of the caries index was dominant. The children were also classified by caries severity zone. At grade 1, 61% had a very severe pattern of caries in the primary teeth, i.e. caries in pits/fissures, proximal surfaces, smooth surfaces, and incisors. Forty-three percent of the children at grade 6 showed this pattern in permanent teeth. In Romanian schoolchildren the present level and pattern of dental caries are most severe and the implementation of oral health promotion and prevention at the community level is urgently needed.

Oral health in Slovenia, Yugoslavia

An oral health epidemiological survey using WHO assessment forms was conducted in the Republic of Slovenia (Yugoslavia) in 1987. The study population consisted of 1623 persons aged 6, 12, 15, 18, 35-44 and over 65 yr. The survey included 10 towns in 9 geographical areas of Slovenia. The results showed the prevalence of dental caries in the Slovenian population to be very high (93.6% in 12-yr-olds). The mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) scores were as follows: 5.1 at age 12 yr, 10.2 at 15 yr, 12.9 at 18 yr, 20.5 at 35-44 yr, and 27.0 in persons aged over 65 yr. Assessment of the periodontal status showed calculus to be the predominant disorder in the age groups 18 and 35-44 yr, while shallow pockets prevailed in persons aged over 65 yr.

Periodontal treatment needs in a population of Ljubljana, Yugoslavia

1692 citizens of Ljubljana in the age range from 15 to 65 yr participated in a survey to assess their periodontal treatment needs. Eighty-three of the participants (4.9%) were edentulous and excluded from the study. Of the 1609 dentate subjects only 2.4% were free of any signs of periodontal disease. According to the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs, (CPITN), reversible gingivitis was present in 19.9% of the population, calculus and shallow pockets (4-5 mm) in 57.4%, and deep pockets (greater than or equal to 6 mm) in 20.3% of the examined participants. Bleeding on probing was the most common finding in a group of 15-yr-old subjects, calculus was most frequently found in 25- and 35-yr-old groups, and shallow and deep pockets in 45-, 55- and 65-yr-old adults. Complex treatment needs increased with age, reaching 42.9% in the 65-yr-old population. However, deep pocketing was in 60% limited to one sextant of the participants with complex treatment needs.