[Analysis of dental caries prevention program in 7-12-year-old Lithuanian schoolchildren]. / 7-12 metu Lietuvos moksleiviu kruminiu dantu eduonies profilaktikos programos analize.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to assess dental status in 7-12-year-old Lithuanian children and to evaluate the extent and the efficiency of the Pit and Fissure Sealing in Permanent Molars program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed between September 2007 and May 2008. Children, aged 7-12 years, from secondary schools in five biggest cities of Lithuania were invited for the examination using a cluster random sampling method. The data for the present study were collected following the general principles for basic oral health surveys of the World Health Organization. RESULTS: The prevalence of dental caries was 85.5%, 88.9%, and 70.6% in 7-8-, 9-10-, and 12-year olds, respectively. The prevalence of dental caries in permanent molars increased with age and became as high as 57.7% in 12-year-old children. The data showed that the mean number of sealed teeth depends on the county and ranged from 0.83 (1.31) to 1.45 (1.85) in 7-8-year olds, from 0.95 (1.29) to 2.54 (1.15) in 9-10-year olds, and from 0.26 to 2.13 (1.15) in 12-year olds. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and incidence of dental caries in 7-12-year-old Lithuanian children are high. Only half of all examined children have at least one sealed molar. The financial resources allocated for the Pit and Fissure Sealing in Permanent Molars program were used insufficiently; therefore, there is a need for systematic measures in order to improve the efficacy of the aforementioned program.

[Private or public dental care? Patients' perception and experience in Lithuania]. / Privati ar valstybine odontologine gydymo istaiga? Lietuvos pacientu nuomone ir patirtis.

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To compare demographic and social groups of patients, their satisfaction with services in public and private dental institutions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A random sample of 3000 Lithuanian residents was selected; 1801 participants answered a postal questionnaire. The response rate was 60.0%. Univariate analysis, chi(2) criterion, z-test, and multiple logistic regression were used to evaluate the association between institution type, demographic and social characteristics of the respondents. RESULTS. Less than half of Lithuanian residents (41.2%) visited public dental institutions, 35.9%--private, 25.9%--both. They preferred private dental sector due to better quality of service, public--due to closeness to residence or being the treatment place of acquaintances. Patients visiting public institutions required cheaper treatment, while patients visiting private institutions--qualitative, though more expensive, using modern technologies. The number of dental visits in the past year was lower in public institutions than in private ones. The majority of patients treated in public, private, and both institutions were satisfied with dental services. The least satisfied were visiting both institutions. More respondents with secondary and lower education used public services as compared to those with higher education. Urban population visited public institutions more often than rural population. Respondents with a monthly income of less than 500 Lt for one family member used public dental services more often than those receiving a higher income. Older patients visited public dental institutions more often than younger ones. CONCLUSIONS. More Lithuanian residents are treated in public dental institutions (up to 67.1%) than in private. Older, receiving lower income patients preferred public institutions. The majority of patients in public clinics as well as in private sector are satisfied with the service. Those who visited both types of institutions were least satisfied with dental services.

The orthodontic treatment in Lithuania: accessibility survey.

UNLABELLED: The objective of the present study was to assess the public accessibility of orthodontic care in Lithuania. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2008, a request for the information about various aspects of public orthodontic care during 2000-2007 in Lithuania was submitted to the State Patients' Fund at the Ministry of Health. The data on the demographic distribution of orthodontists in Lithuania were received from the Lithuanian Dental Chamber. The authors of the paper also analyzed the national legislation regulating the State Patients' Fund expenditure on orthodontic care and treatment. RESULTS: In 2007, there were 73 orthodontists-practitioners in Lithuania, most of them highly concentrated in major cities and towns: most of them were practicing in Vilnius (22) and Kaunas (20), while there were only 5 orthodontists in Klaipeda, 4 in Siauliai, 3 in each of Panevezys and Marijampole. The public orthodontic treatment is rendered only to patients suffering from most severe pathologies. With the constantly increasing expenditure of the State Patients' Fund, the national public orthodontic care system definitely undergoes significant development: the number of patients who received the treatment with removable and with fixed orthodontic appliances was gradually increasing during 2002-2007, with however, a very small number of new facilities for ambulatory treatment facilities of orthodontists (consultations included). The number of patients who received treatment with removable orthodontic appliances was specifically higher in Siauliai and Telsiai, Panevezys and Utena districts, with fixed orthodontic appliances - in Vilnius and Alytus, Kaunas and Marijampole, Panevezys and Utena regions. The analysis of the availability of public orthodontic treatment showed a marked increase in the number highly-specialized ambulatory facilities in Vilnius and Alytus district in 2002-2007. CONCLUSIONS: Specialists providing orthodontic treatment in the country are highly concentrated, while in general public orthodontic treatment undergoes development at the moment. The accessibility of orthodontic treatment in Lithuania, especially in the regions distant from Vilnius and Kaunas, remains inadequate.