In Romania an increasing level of dental caries in children has been observed. The present study was undertaken to describe the oral health behavior of schoolchildren in the first grade, to assess the level of oral health knowledge and attitudes among the mothers, and to describe oral knowledge and attitudes to prevention among the schoolteachers. A total of 322 mothers of grade-1 children (response, 89%) and 97 schoolteachers (response, 86%) participated in the study. Data on mothers and children were collected through personal interviews, whereas the teachers responded to self-administered questionnaires. A significant proportion of the mothers knew about the causal factors in dental caries; however, relatively few were aware of the harmful effect of hidden sugar. Most of the mothers were aware of the importance of toothbrushing, but 33% also recommended the use of salt for prevention of periodontal disease. Of the children, 37% brushed their teeth at least twice a day; 26% had their teeth cleaned by their mothers every day. Sugar was mostly consumed in terms of milk with sugar, sugary breakfast cereals, biscuits, and sweets. The schoolteachers knew about the poor dental conditions in children and wanted to become involved in oral health education. Training of teachers should aim at improving their level of knowledge on oral health. The establishment of school-based oral health promotion programs in Romania is urgently needed.

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.

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