Oral Health Status Among 12-Year-Old Schoolchildren in Kosovo

Objective: To evaluate the oral health status of 12-year-old schoolchildren in Kosovo. Material and Methods: The study involved 1204 schoolchildren aged 12 years from urban and rural areas, from different cities of Kosovo. The questionnaire included demographic data, gender, residence, dental status, oral hygiene, and daily brushing habits. The feasibility of the questionnaire was verified replicating it on 10% of the sample. Daily brushing habits were reported to frequency: as once per day, twice a day and rarely. Caries status was recorded in permanent dentition as DMFT and Oral Hygiene Index - Simplified (OHI-S) was used to assess oral hygiene status. The analysis included occurrences and means. The differences among means were tested using the student t-test (p<0.05). Results: The highest mean and standard deviation of DMFT and OHI-S index was found among rural schoolboys 3.67 ± 1.98 and OHI-S 1.75. In total sample, 54.1% of them brush their teeth only once a day, 39.7 % brush their teeth twice a day and only 6.2 % rarely brush their teeth. Conclusion: Preventive measures are needed to improve dental health in 12 years old schoolchildren

Oral Health Status Related to Social Behaviors among 6 - 11 Year Old Schoolchildren in Kosovo

Svrha ovog istraživanja bila je procijeniti status oralnoga zdravlja učenika u dobi od 6 do 11 godina na Kosovu. Materijali i metode: U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 5679 učenika u dobi od 6 do 11 godina iz različitih kosovskih gradova. Stanje oralnoga zdravlja ocijenjeno je na temelju dijagnostičkih kriterija Svjetske zdravstvene organizacije (SZO) koji uključuju bilježenje broja karijesa, izvađenih zuba i ispuna (kep/KEP indeks) u mliječnoj i trajnoj denticiji. Uključena djeca odgovorila su i na nekoliko pitanja o oralnoj higijeni, prehrambenim navikama i posjetima stomatologu. Analiza je uključivala frekvencije i prosječne vrijednosti. Razlike između prosječnih vrijednosti analizirane su studentovim t-testom (p < 0,05), a čimbenici povezani sa zubnim karijesom Spearmanovim koeficijentom korelacije. Rezultati: Prosječni kep/KEP indeks među učenicima u dobi od 6 do 11 godina iznosio je 4,36 ± 3,763 i 1,20 ± 1,488. Zapečaćene zube imalo je 90 učenika – ukupno 1,58 posto. U dobi od 8 godina do 50 posto djece zube je četkalo dva puta na dan. Od uključene djece 40 posto konzumiralo je slastice jedanput na dan, a većina je stomatologa posjećivala samo ako je bilo potrebno. Potvrđena je statistički značajna korelacija između konzumiranja slastica, oralne higijene te posjeta stomatologu i prevalencije karijesa. Zaključak: Naši rezultati pokazali su veliku prevalenciju karijesa među učenicima u dobi od 6 do 11 godina, što upućuje na to da je potreban sveobuhvatan program primarne oralne zdravstvene zaštite i rani redoviti posjeti stomatologu te preventivne mjere.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the current oral health status among schoolchildren in Kosovo aged 6-11 years. Material and methods: A study included 5679 schoolchildren aged 6 -11 years, from different towns of Kosovo. Dental health status was evaluated using the World Health Organization (WHO) caries diagnostic criteria for decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft/DMFT index), for deciduous and permanent dentition. The observed children have answered a number of questions about their oral hygiene, eating habits, and dental visits. The analysis included frequencies and means. The differences between means were tested using the student t-test (p<0.05). The factors associated with dental caries were tested using the Spearman’s rank. Results: The mean dmft/DMFT of schoolchildren aged 6-11 years was 4.36 ± 3.763 and 1.20 ± 1.488, respectively. Sealant placements were found among 90 schoolchildren, amounting to 1.58%. From 8 years of age, 50% of children brush their teeth twice a day. Confectionery consumption among the observed children has increased. Forty percent of them eat sweets at least once a day, and majority of them visit their dentists only when necessary. A significant correlation between consumption of confectionery, oral hygiene, dental visits and the prevalence of caries was confirmed. Conclusion: The results of the present study show that there is a high prevalence of caries among 6-11 year old schoolchildren, thus pointing to a need for an extensive program of primary oral health care as well as utilizing preventive measures and regular dental visits

Prevalencija zubnog karijesa i stanje oralnoga zdravlja petnaestogodišnjih adolescenata na Kosovu

Caries has a harmful impact on oral and general health and is a major public health problem among children and adolescents. The objective of present study was to investigate into dental caries, oral hygiene, the frequency of brushing habits and dental visits among 15 year old adolescents. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on a random sample of 323 15 year old adolescents in different schools and municipalities of Kosovo. Oral clinical examination and self-administered questionnaire were used to obtain information about dental caries and oral health practices. Oral hygiene and caries status in permanent dentition was assessed through the DMFT index and Oral Hygiene Index - Simplified (OHI-S). The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: The total mean of the DMFT index was 3.21 ± 2.193, while component D of the DMFT index dominated in both genders, with slightly higher values in boys compared to girls (2.15±2.092, and 1.91±1.919). The mean OHI-S index of adolescents aged 15 was found to be 1.945±3.926. Over 50% of schoolchildren brush their teeth only once per day and they have visited the dentist only when it was necessary. Irregular toothbrushing, dental visits and poor oral hygiene index were significantly related to dental caries. Conclusion: The results of the study showed poor oral health status among 15 year old adolescents in Kosovo. There is an emergent need for caries prevention programs focusing on oral health and healthy habits.Svrha rada: Karijes štetno utječe na oralno i opće zdravlje te je velik javnozdravstveni problem među djecom i adolescentima. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je kod petnaestogodišnjih adolescenata istražiti prevalenciju karijesa, status oralne higijene, navike četkanja zuba i učestalost posjeta stomatologu. Materijali i metode: Ovo presječno istraživanje provedeno je na slučajnom uzorku od 323 adolescenta u dobi od 15 godina u različitim kosovskim školama i općinama. Obavljeni su klinički oralni pregled te su ispitanici samostalno ispunjavali upitnike da bi se dobile informacije o zubnom karijesu i oralnome zdravlju. Stanje oralne higijene i karijesa u trajnoj denticiji procijenjeno je na temelju DMFT indeksa i indeksa oralne higijene – pojednostavljeno OHI-S-a. Razina statističke značajnosti postavljena je na p < 0,05. Rezultati: Ukupna srednja vrijednost DMFT indeksa iznosila je 3,21 ± 2,193, pri čemu je komponenta D dominirala u oba spola, s nešto višim vrijednostima kod dječaka negoli kod djevojčica (2,15 ± 2,092 i 1,91 ± 1,919). Prosječni indeks OHI-S adolescenata u dobi od 15 godina iznosio je 1,945 ± 3,926. Više od 50 % školske djece zube četka samo jedanput na dan i posjećuju stomatologa samo kada je potrebno. Neredovito četkanje zuba, rijetki posjeti stomatologu i loš indeks oralne higijene znatno su povezani s prevalencijom karijesa. Zaključak: Svi analizirani podatci pokazali su da je među petnaestogodišnjim adolescentima na Kosovu stanje oralnoga zdravlja loše. Potrebna je hitna primjena valjanih programa za zaustavljanje karijesa koji se usredotočuju na oralno zdravlje i zdrave navike

The Influence of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus on Dental Caries and Salivary Composition

Diabetes mellitus is the most common chronic disease that affects the oral health. The aim of the study is to evaluate the dental caries, salivary flow rate, buffer capacity, and Lactobacilli in saliva in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus compared to the control group. Methods. The sample consisted of 160 children of 10 to 15 years divided into two groups: 80 children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 80 children as a control group. Dental caries was assessed using the DMFT index for permanent dentition. Stimulated saliva was collected among all children. Salivary flow rate and buffer capacity were measured, and the colonies of Lactobacillus in saliva were determined. The observed children have answered a number of questions related to their dental visits and parents’ education. The data obtained from each group were compared statistically using the chi-square test and Mann–Whitney U-test. The significant level was set at p<0.05. Results. DMFT in children with type 1 diabetes was significantly higher than that in the control group (p<0.001). Diabetic children have a low level of stimulated salivary flow rate compared to control children (0.86 ± 0.16 and 1.10 ± 0.14). The buffer capacity showed statistically significant differences between children with type 1 diabetes and control group (p<0.001). Also, children with type 1 diabetes had a higher count and a higher risk of Lactobacillus compared to the control group (p<0.05 and p<0.001). Conclusion. The findings we obtained showed that type 1 diabetes mellitus has an important part in children’s oral health. It appears that children with type 1 diabetes are exposed to a higher risk for caries and oral health than nondiabetic children