Introduction. Pathologies in the oral cavity are a visible problem in polish society. The knowledge regarding oral pathologies and a doctor-patient contact are necessary to diagnose and treat efficiently. COVID-19 pandemic limited this contact reducing health control that caused the development of new pathologies. Those limitations touched dentists making the efficient diagnosis and treatment difficult. Aim. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of COVID-19 on the accessibility of dental procedures and the development of oral pathologies. Material and methods. The survey took place during Students’ Science Club Fair at the Medical University in Lublin on 5th November 2021 and in the following days among students of the Medical University in Lublin and other universities in Poland. 102 respondents answered 8 questions anonymously. Results. The answers’ analysis showed that 74,5% of the respondents do regular dental check-ups at least once a year. Due to the pandemic 27,5% had to change the date of at least one appointment. 47% admitted that the access to dental offices during the pandemic was difficult. 67,6% noticed the rise of the prices of dental procedures. 72,5% declared the lack of new oral pathologies and 26,5% confirmed the appearance of new symptoms in the oral cavity. Conclusions. The high percentage of dentists in Poland explains why the society is used to an easy access to dental procedures. Dental offices’ accessibility was limited due to the pandemic which was felt by the respondents as a rise in prices and a decrease of the availability of the dentists in that period. Those limitations resulted in the diagnosis of new pathologies.

Introduction. The issues of dental office accessibility, professionalism of the service as well as treatment reimbursement often determine geriatric patients’ decision regarding treatment. In the era of an aging society, struggling with the intensification of disease processes of the entire system, the belief of the elderly about the value and availability of dental treatments is the key to the wide use of the achievements of modern dental medicine. Thanks to this, there is a chance to improve oral health, which will directly improve the overall health condition of this age group. Aim. The aim of the study was to know the opinions of senior patients about the quality and availability of dental care for this age group. Materials and methods. The study was conducted during the Lublin Seniors Meeting LUB-SENIOR 2019 among 100 randomly selected people of both sexes aged 60-75 living in Lublin, who are not residents of retirement homes. An anonymous direct questionnaire with 7 questions regarding dental care was used. Results. After analyzing the answers given by the respondents (n=100), it was found that 84% of them showed satisfaction with the dental care available to them. Among the surveyed seniors, 81% declared having their own dentist, while 25% expressed the willingness to change him. As much as 80% of the respondents declared that dentists pay attention to seniors dental health problems. A friendly approach of the dental team to a senior patient was declared by 61% of the respondents. Preferences concerning the use of dental treatment in private offices were reported by 44% of thepeople, and within the procedures provided by the NHF – by 45%. Conclusions. The surveyed senior patients show attachment to their dentist, while expressing a positive opinion on dental care and the treatment. Few people in the studied age group show the willingness to change dentists, which is directly influenced by the doctors’ interest in health problems of the elderly.

Purpose Comparison of allelic variant frequency of eNOS gene T786C in patients with normal tension glaucoma and primary open angle glaucoma. Methods The studied group constituted 97 patients with NTG and 49 patients with POAG. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood and T786C polymorphism was studied by RT‐PCR method. Results In NTG patients TT genotype was present in 36% patients, TC in 52.6% and CC in 11.3%. In POAG patients genotype TT was detected in 42.9% persons, TC in 48.9% and CC in 8.2%. The difference in allelic frequency was not statistically significant (p=0.75). In women with NTG the allelic frequency was similar to men (respectively, in women: TT‐35.9%, TC‐48.4%, CC‐15.6% and men TT‐36.4%, TC‐60.6%, CC‐3%; p=0.92). In group of women with POAG the allelic frequency was also similar to men (in women: TT‐41.2%, TC‐50%, CC‐8.8% and men: TT‐46.7%, TC‐46.7% a CC‐6.7%; p=0.09). Comparing the difference in genotype frequencies between both glaucoma types no significant difference was detected in women (p=0.9) and men (p=0.7). The CC genotype was most frequently present in NTG women (15.6%), comparing to NTG men (3%) and POAG women (8.8%). Conclusion The frequency of particular genotypes of T786C polymorphism of eNOS gene did not significantly differ in patients with NTG and POAG, yet the mutated allelic form is most frequent in NTG women.