The assessment of primary teeth condition in 6 year-old children in Podgorica municipality

Abstract

Summary Introduction The most frequent oral disease in children is tooth decay. The aim of this study was to determine the health status of primary teeth in 6 year-old children. Material and method The study included 203 children of both genders living in the territory of Podgorica municipality. Only children whose parents gave consent were included. The parameters used for assessing oral health condition were: number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth due to caries (dmft) and Significant Caries Index (SiC). One dentist clinically examined all respondents in accordance with methodology and criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO). Results The average value of dmft in 6-year-olds in Podgorica was 4.9. On average, 80.3% of examined children had dental decay. The SiC Index was 8.3. Among examined children, 12.3% had at least one tooth with fissure sealant. In dmft structure dominated untreated decay (92.6%). Conclusion Results showed high prevalence of primary teeth decay in 6 years old children, indicating the absence of preventive measures and programs in Montenegro.