Prevalence of dental decay in Jewish and Arab schoolchildren in the Jerusalem area.

The purpose of this survey was to gather up-to-date information on the prevalence of dental decay in schoolchildren in the Jerusalem area. Close to 650 Arab and Jewish schoolchildren aged 6-8 yr underwent oral examinations. The relationship between caries prevalence and treatment supplied with some secondary factors was studied. The results show that 92% of the children were affected by decay. Compared to former years there is an increase in the prevalence of dental caries throughout the population. No significant differences were found when sex, ethnic population or socioeconomic factors were related to caries prevalence. However, when DMF is broken down into its components, Arab children were seen to have a greater number of teeth affected by caries and in need of treatment (D). In contrast, treatment need has been met to a much greater degree among Jewish children than among Arab children. Data and explanations are offered.

Prosthetic needs and demands for services of a group of elderly people in Israel.

Prosthetic needs and demands for care were investigated in a group of the elderly, residing in Romema, Jerusalem, Israel. Of the population aged 60 and above residing in the neighborhood, 34% (n = 116) were selected at random. These were examined under standardized conditions and prosthetic status and denture requirements were recorded. The findings indicate that the prosthetic status was poor and the treatment needs extensive. In all, over 83% of the study population were edentulous, the majority in both arches. Although 86.3% of the edentulous subjects possessed dentures, over 86% of these subjects needed some form of prosthetic treatment. About 60% needed new full or partial dentures and over 25% had dentures whose fit and retention could be improved by rebasing, relining or minor adjustments.

Measurement of dental caries experience--modification of the DMFT index.

The DMFT index is one of the simplest and most commonly used indices in epidemiologic surveys of dental caries. It quantifies dental health status based on the number of carious, missing and filled teeth. The index, however, does not provide an accurate description of previous dental care. Nor does it provide information regarding the severity of the carious attack or the indicated treatment. Thus, a revision of the DMFT index was developed. This involved a division of the "D" component into four separate categories. With the addition of these categories, the index remains simple, and yet provides a description of one's previous dental experience. It further shows the extent of dental services needed by the population, which can be interpreted in terms of treatment hours and costs. This modified index has been successfully utilized in a dental epidemiologic survey of 1672 schoolchildren, 14-16 yr of age. It was apparent that the additional components provided significant data for treatment planning as well as dental health status.

Periodontal disease and oral hygiene among new immigrants to Israel from three regions of origin.

The purpose of the present investigation was to gather information on the prevalence of periodontal disease and oral cleanliness status of new immigrants to Israel. A comparison was made between the different regions of origin. New immigrants, residents of four absorption centers in Israel, who arrived in Israel no more than three months prior to the date of their examination, were included in the study. Altogether, 1031 immigrants (417 Eastern Europeans, 338 Western Europeans/North Americans and 276 South Americans) were examined. During the examination periodontal status and oral hygiene were checked. Periodontal status was recorded according to Russell's Periodontal Index (PI). The oral cleanliness was assessed according to Greene and Vermillion's Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S). A markedly lower prevalence of periodontal diseases and a significantly better oral cleanliness were demonstrated by the West European/North American group as compared to the other two groups. The South American group, as intermediate group, exhibited significantly lower mean PI and OHI-S scores as compared to the East Europeans. Generally, the same distribution of prevalence of periodontal diseases between the three groups were found by the respective age groups. The results demonstrated a significant increase in prevalence of periodontal diseases, by age. Oral cleanliness showed a trend to deteriorate by age, but not significantly so. A sex difference was apparent in the prevalence of periodontal diseases and in oral hygiene. Low OHI-S scores (indicating improved oral hygiene) were associated with the low PI scores (indicating better periodontal status) in the whole study population and within the different regions of origin.

Oral hygiene among Israeli kibbutz youth.

The purpose of this study was to assemble up-to-date information regarding oral hygiene status among Israeli kibbutz adolescents 14-17 years of age. The oral hygiene status of 465 teenagers in 10 kibbutzim was determined. The findings indicate a relatively better oral cleanliness as compared with past results in Israel for similar age groups. It was suggested that the nature and structure of the kibbutz way of life, family and peers strongly influences kibbutz teenagers' oral hygiene practices.

Prevalence of dental caries and demands for services among Israeli kibbutz youth.

The purpose of the present study was to assembly information regarding caries prevalence among adolescent residents of kibbutzim in Israel. A total of 465 teenagers in 10 kibbutzim were examined for dental caries experienced. The DMFT figures derived in the study were almost double the values recorded for a comparable kibbitz age groups in the later 60's. Mean DMFT values were found to increase with age. The mean number of decayed teeth (D) showed a similar distribution. The proportion of teenagers free of caries was 1.5% and only 2.3% did not require any treatment. Despite the overwhelming need for dental care noted among kibbutz youth, only 21.6% were receiving care of their dental needs. Since physical blocks to access to dental care are almost non-existent in the kibbutz, it was suggested that the reason for the high rates of unmet needs, could, at least partially, be attributed to fear of pain and anxiety about the treatment.

Quality assessment of dental restorations provided to adult kibbutz residents in Israel.

The purpose of the present study was to assess the quality of restorations provided to adult kibbutz residents. Two kibbutzim were selected for the study. A random sample of 72 adults aged 21-50 was drawn from a population of 670 adults residing in the kibbutzim. A total of 488 restorations were studied and recorded for quality under standardized conditions. The quality of restorations was assessed according to an index devised for this purpose. The quality of restorations was rather low. It was suggested that lack of standardization of performance levels in Israel is reflected in part in the observed low quality of dental restorations. This study points clearly to measures which can be initiated through dental education, financing and public health planning sectors of society to increase awareness of ths problem and to define specific steps for improving the quality of restorative dental care delivered in kibbutzim in Israel.

Prevalence of dental caries among workers in the sweets industry in Israel.

The purpose of the present study was to assemble data on the prevalence of dental caries among workers in the sweets industry. Three confectionaries were selected for the study. Most employees consented to be examined and were included in the study. The participants were distributed into two main groups: production line workers (228 participants) and non-production line workers (195 participants). The control group consisted of a group of production line workers from five textile industrial establishments; 812 in all. The results indicate that the mean DMFT values recorded for the sweets industry workers were significantly higher than those recorded for the control group. Significantly higher mean DMFT values recorded in the production line workers, as compared with the non-production line workers, in the confectionary industry were assumed to be attributed to a higher consumption of sweets and closer exposure to sugar dust. Mean DMFT values were found to increase significantly in relation to the duration of exposure to the effect of carbohydrates in both groups of workers in the sweets industry.

Application of the periodontal treatment need system (PTNS) in a group of young Israeli adults.

The Periodontal Treatment Need System (PTNS) was applied to a group of young Israeli adults, 18-25 years of age, to test the system in the field. A total of 830 persons were examined. Their periodontal treatment needs were assessed. One of the aspects investigated was that of treatment needs according to distribution by sex. Only 2.7% of young adults studied were free of plaque, calculus and gingival inflammation. All the rest (97.3%) needed some kind of periodontal treatment. The time required for treatment needed was also calculated. It was found that on the average 2.4 h per person would be required to deliver the periodontal treatment needs of the group. A close association between sex and PTNS was established in this study.

Decayed, missing, and filled teeth among Jewish and Arab schoolchildren in Israel.

The purpose of this investigation was to gather information on caries prevalence in schoolchildren of Arab and Jewish populations, and compare caries prevalence according to sex, age and population examined. Altogther, 3672 children were included in the survey (1975 Jews, 1001 of whom were females; and 1697 Arabs, 840 of whom were females). During the examination only dental caries were checked. Caries were marked according to the DMF index. Compared to former years there is an increase in the prevalence of caries throughout the population. A slightly lower caries prevalence was found among Jewish children than among Arab children of the same age. However, when DMF is broken down into its component parts, Arab children were seen to have a greater number of teeth affected by caries and in need of treatment (D). Furthermore, treatment need has been met to a much greater degree among Jewish children than among Arab children. Arab children received almost no dental care.

The prevalence of periodontal diseases iin urban Israeli youth (14-18 years of age).

The purpose of the present study was to obtain current information regarding periodontal diseases. The study was conducted in Israel among ninth to twelth grade students, 14 to 18 years of age, residing in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan. A total of 725 school children were examined. During the examination only periodontal status was checked. Periodontal status was recorded according to Russell's Periodontal Index (PI). The mean PI found was 0.52. The results indicate an increase in the mean PI with age. Significant difference was found in the mean PI values between girls and boys. Girls constantly scored lower mean PI values than boys. No significant differences were found in the mean PI scores when studied according to country of origin.

Periodontal disease and oral hygiene in a group of blind and sighted Israeli teenagers (14--17 years of age.

The purpose of the present study was to obtain up-to-date information on periodontal disease and oral hygiene status in Israel among 9th to 12th grade non-blind students and among the inmates of six schools for the blind aged 14--17 years. 460 sighted and 434 blind students participated in the study. The examination was for periodontal status and oral hygiene only. Periodontal status was recorded according to Russell's Periodontal Index (PI). Oral hygiene was assessed according to Greene & Vermillion's Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S). Mean PI for the non-blind group was found to be 0.23, and for the blind students 0.79. Partially blind students were found to have a lower mean PI value than the totally blind. PI values did not increase significantly with age. Blind students exhibited a fair-to-poor level of oral hygiene (according to Greene & Vermillion's categorization). Relatively healthier levels of oral hygiene were found in the partially blind as compared with the totally blind. Mean OHI-S did not vary with age in either group.

Prevalence of dental caries among workers in the sweets industry in Israel.

The purpose of the present study was to assemble data on the prevalence of dental caries among workers in the sweets industry. Four industrial establishments were selected for the study. All production-line workers were included. Altogether 722 participants. The control group consisted of a group of production-line workers in five textile industrial establishments, altogether 812 examinees. The results indicate that the mean DMFT values recorded for the sweets industry workers were significantly higher than those recorded for the control group of workers. The mean DMFT scores recorded for workers in the sweets industry employed for over 10 years were significantly higher than those recorded for workers in the same industry employed for 3-10 years and for up to 3 years.