Subject. Prevalence and intensity of dental caries, the state of oral hygiene, and the need for oral sanitation in children of the Smolensk region. Objectives. To study the prevalence and intensity of dental caries in middle and high school-aged children, as well as their dietary and hygienic behavior. Methodology. A one-time cohort prospective observational dental examination was conducted on 216 children attending secondary schools in the Smolensk region. The sample was divided into 2 groups: group 1 (children aged 12 years, n = 56); group 2 (children aged 15 years, n = 160). A unified method for conducting WHO epidemiological dental surveys was used. The prevalence and intensity of dental caries, oral hygiene status, and the need for oral sanitation were studied. Food and hygiene behavior, as well as motivation for dental treatment, were assessed using questionnaires. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Office Excel 2016 with the AtteStat add-in version 12.0.5. The Student's t-test for independent samples was used to compare the mean values. Results. In the age groups of children aged 12 years (WHO key group) and 15 years, high (WHO criteria) prevalence of dental caries (96.4 % and 89.4 %, respectively); intensity of caries of permanent teeth (KPU) (4.8 ±0.5 and 5.0 ±0.3, respectively, t = 0.71, p > 0.05); the need for oral sanitation (82.1 % and 76.9 %, respectively, φ = 0.02, p > 0.05). Conclusions. Predictors of dental caries in 12-year-old children were the consumption of sweets/lollies, flour products, irregular oral hygiene, and visits to a dentist. To prevent dental diseases in children, it is necessary to implement regional multi-level dental care programs in rural areas of the Smolensk Region.
Shashmurina et al. (Fri,) studied this question.