Oral health education activities directed towards the prevention of risk factors for developing caries should involve both parents and their children, because parental behavior is a significant predictor of children's oral health.

Introduction. Dental caries and gingivitis are common in school children although they can be prevented through the health education and application of preventive measures. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of caries, gingivitis and orthodontic irregularities in school children and to assess the efficacy of health education program in relation to the plaque and gingivitis control as well as caries treatment. Material and Methods. This study included 56 second grade students with early mixed dentition and 56 seventh grade students with permanent dentition, from elementary school “Borislav Petrov Braca” in Pancevo. DMFT/dmft index, Plaque index (PI) according to Sillness-Löe, and the prevalence of gingivitis and orthodontic anomalies were determined by clinical examination. The Interventional Program included oral hygiene education and the application of prophylactic measures. At one and six months follow-ups, PI, gingival health and changes in DMFT/dmft structure were reexamined. Results. Gingivitis was recorded in 78.56% of II and 50% of VII grade students. In the II grade students, mean DMFT was 1.36±1.41, and dmft 5.07±2.66. In the VII grade students mean DMFT was 4.36±3.34. The most common orthodontic anomalies were narrow maxilla, deep bite and distal bite. After six months of conducting the Program, reduction of gingivitis and number of carious teeth in DMFT/dmft structure as well as oral hygiene improvement were achieved in both age groups. Conclusion. Oral hygiene, dental status and the prevalence of orthodontic anomalies in school children indicate the necessity to intensify preventive measures. Health education programs contribute to improvement of oral health and increase motivation for self-care in children

Introduction. Adolescence is a period of intensive physical, psychological and emotional changes that might affect existing oral health related habits and result in developing risky behaviors. The aim of the present study was to investigate oral health attitudes and behavior and their relation to dental caries experience in the group of adolescents from Belgrade. Material and Methods. This cross-sectional study included 404 high-school students grade one from Belgrade. Two trained and calibrated dentists conducted clinical examination in classrooms to determine oral health status of adolescents (DMFT index and visual signs of gingivitis). Modified Serbian version of Hiroshima University Dental Behavior Inventory (HU-DBI) questionnaire with three additional questions was used to collect data on oral health behavior and attitudes. Results. Mean HU-DBI score was 6.22±1.45 for males and 6.28±1.45 for females (p<0.05). Dental visits at least once in a year reported 67.3% adolescents, more often girls (p<0.05). Only emergency dental visits reported 47.1% of adolescents. Majority of respondents reported brushing teeth twice a day or more (86.2%), girls more often than boys (p<0.001). Only 13.4% reported regular flossing and 30.3% daily use of mouth rinses. Mean DMFT score was 5.84±0.20 with 45% of untreated decayed tooth. Unfavorable oral health related attitudes and behavior were related to poorer oral health status of adolescents. Conclusion. Poor oral health of adolescents is influenced by their inadequate attitudes and habits. Program of oral health promotion for adolescents that would target knowledge, attitudes and skills development should be implemented to enhance adolescents’ oral self-care regime and oral health outcome

Orthodontics is dental specialty focused on preventing and treating morphological and functional irregularities of orofacial system in order to establish adequate function of mastication apparatus, good occlusion and pleasant facial appearance. It has been shown that early treatment of orthodontic anomalies during the period of children’s growth is very important. The purpose of early orthodontic treatment is to eliminate or modify deviant skeletal growth and to stimulate adequate dentoalveolar and skeletal development. As known, the treatment of malocclusions should begin in primary or early mixed dentition, since the status of primary dentition has profound effect on the development of permanent dentition. Functional orthodontic appliances are most commonly used in early orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to describe a new prefabricated polyurethane myo-functional appliance clinically proved to be very effective

Циљ истраживања био је да се утврди здравствено понашање родитеља и повезаност њиховог знања, ставова и понашања са стањем оралног здравља деце. Материјал и метод: Студија пресека обухватила је 99 парова родитеља и њихове деце узраста од петог до осмог разреда. На основу упитника утврђени су знање, ставови и здравствена пракса родитеља у погледу оралне хигијене, флуорпрофилаксе и исхране. Орално здравље родитеља анализирано је на основу података о губитку и адекватној надокнади зуба, док је орално здравље деце утврђено на основу резулатата стандардизованог стоматолошког прегледа. Резултати: Два пута дневно зубе пере 85,7% родитеља. Иако већина родитеља сматра да је потребно користити зубни конац, само 29,3% га користи. Мање од половине родитеља контролише да ли њихово дете одржава оралну хигијену, а 18,2% родитеља сматра да не могу натерати своје дете да пере зубе два пута дневно. Трећина родитеља сматра да не треба да ускраћује слаткише својој деци. Утврђена је статистички сигнификантна повезаност између оралног здравља детета Summary: The aim of the study was to determine oral health health behavior of parents and its influence on childrens' oral health. Material and methods: this cross-sectional study included 99 pairs of parents and their children (V to VIII school grade). Data on parental oral health behaviour, knowledge and attitudes regarding oral hygiene, fluorides and nutrition were collected by questionnaires. Parental dental health was assessed according to self-reported data on tooth loss and prosthodontic rehabilitation, while dental status of theirchildren was determined by clinical examination. Results: Twice a day brushing was reported by 85.7% of parents. Although the majority of parents stated it was necessary to use dental floss, only 29.3% reported flossing. Less than a half of parents supervised their child in brushing, and 18.2% of parents felt unable to influence their child to brush two times a day. Aproximately one third of parents thought they should not control sugar consumption of their child. There was a statistically significant correlation between parental oral hygiene and ability to control child in brushing, with oral status of a child.