Prevalence of caries and gingivitis among school children in the municipality of Foca

Abstract

Oral health is an integral part of general health and can significantly affect the quality of life [1, 2]. The prevalence of oral diseases is high and their impact on an individual and a community is significant [3]. Dental caries is one of the most common chronic diseases today, occurring in 60-90% of school children and many adults [1]. It should be noted that caries in children has not been completely eradicated, but has been put under control only to a certain extent [4]. Recent research has shown a significant improvement of dental health and decrease in caries prevalence in all age groups. However, dental caries is still the most frequent disease in adolescence [5]. Incomplete maturation of enamel, increasing number of surfaces susceptible to caries, external factors such as diet, poor oral hygiene and other social factors may also contribute to increased risk for caries in adolescents [6, 7]. In addition to dental caries, adolescence is critical period for periodontal health. Epidemiological and immunological data have indicated that irreversible damage of periodontal tissue begins in late adolescence and early youth [8]. Frequent occurrence of gingivitis in adolescents as compared to pre-pubertal children and adults has also been noticed. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of caries and gingivitis in adolescents age 15 and 17-18 years in the municipality of Foca, Republika Srpska. MATERIAL AND METHODS The final year students from all five elementary schools (two urban and three from suburbs) and the only high school in the municipality of Foca were included in this cross-section study. All students present at the school on the day of the clinical trial were included in the study. There were 135 students (age 15) of primary school (the ninth grade) and 217 students (age 17-18) third and fourth grade of high school. Clinical examination was conducted in classrooms using dental mirrors, dental and periodontal probes under natural light and artificial lighting of the room. The incidence of dental caries was determined using DMFT index and its components (D-decayed, M-missing, F-filled teeth) as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) [9]. Periodontal tissue condition was determined using gingival index (GI) by Löe and Silness.

The status of teeth in relation to socio-demographic characteristics, oral hygiene habits and oral health behavior among adolescents in the eastern region of Republika Srpska

“…The mean DMFT value among adolescents age 1618 years was about 8.6. Djordjevic et al [9] reported slightly higher value of the DMFT index 9.5 in adolescents age 1718 years in the municipality of Foca, Republika Srpska. On the other hand, lower values of the index were observed in studies of Hugo et al [10] where the DMFT value was 5.5 in adolescents age 1518 years, as well as in the study of Xhemnica et al [11] where the mean value of this index was about 5.7 in adolescents age 1718 years.…”

“…Sred nja vred nost in dek sa KEP kod ado le sce na ta uz ra sta 16-18 go di na bi la je oko 8,6. U is tra ži va nju Đor đe vi će ve i sa rad ni ka [9] za be le že na je ne što ve ća vred nost ovog in dek sa (oko 9,5) kod uče ni ka uz ra sta od 17 i 18 go di na na pod ruč ju op šti ne Fo ča, u Re pu bli ci Srp skoj. S dru ge stra ne, ni že vred no sti in dek sa utvr đe ne su u is tra ži va nji ma Hu ga (Hu go) i sa rad ni ka [10], u ko ji ma je vred nost in dek sa KEP bi la 5,5 kod ado le sce na ta uz ra sta 15-18 go di na, kao i u stu di ji Ksem ni ke (Xhem ni ca) i sa rad ni ka [11], gde je sred nja vred nost ovog in dek sa bi la oko 5,7 kod ado le sce na ta uz ra sta 17-18 go di na.…”