Changes in dental caries and oral hygiene among 7-8 year-old schoolchildren in different regions of Lithuania 1983-2009.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate and compare the changes of the dental caries prevalence and severity of 7 to 8 year old schoolchildren in six Lithuanian regions over the past 26 years (1983-2009) and to propose recommendations based on the results of the study. The study is based on the analysis of data, containing 576 cases of children examined in 1983 and comparison with data containing 531 cases added in 2009. The studies were conducted in the same six regions of Lithuania among the children from 7 to 8 years of age. For the study of children the WHO oral assessment methodology was used (WHO Basic methods 1997). Severity of dental caries was described by df-t and DMF-T index. The average of individual df-t and DMF-T indices was calculated for all subjects and sorted by gender. Oral hygiene status was evaluated by applying the simplified Green-Vermilion index-OHI-S (1964) The prevalence of primary dental caries among the children 7 to 8 years of age was 92.4% in 1983 and 88.7% (p=0.43) in 2009. The prevalence of permanent dental caries decreased from 49.6% in 1983 to 29.7% (p<0.001) in 2009. Mean df-t score decreased from 4.9±3.4 in 1983 to 4.1±2.7 in 2009 and DMF-T index decreased from 1.1±1.7 in 1983 to 0.5±1.0 in 2009 (p<0.001). The OHI-S index was not significantly different during 1983-2009. In the period of last 26 years a tendency towards the decrease in the prevalence and severity of dental caries was observed. That could be related to the frequent using of the toothpastes with fluoride, as well as implementation of the caries prevention program with sealants among the children of that age. The poor oral hygiene and comparatively high caries prevalence in schoolchildren show that it is still necessary to improve preventive measures in Lithuania.

Severe early childhood caries and behavioral risk factors among 3-year-old children in Lithuania.

UNLABELLED: The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of early childhood caries (ECC) and severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) in 3-year-old Lithuanian children. The impact of selected behavioral risk factors on the development of S-ECC was investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 950 children were examined in kindergartens. Diagnosis of dental caries followed the WHO criteria. Questionnaires were delivered to mothers of the children with S-ECC and caries-free children. The questions were related to the children's dietary habits, temperament, oral hygiene, and the use of fluoride toothpaste. RESULTS: The prevalence of ECC was 50.6% with a mean dmft of 2.1 (SD, 0.1) and a mean dmfs of 3.4 (SD, 0.2). The prevalence of S-ECC was 6.5% with a mean dmft of 7.8 (SD, 0.1) and dmfs of 18.1 (SD, 0.6). A significantly higher percentage of children developed S-ECC when they were breast-fed for a period longer than one year, were sleeping with a bottle containing carbohydrates during the night, or were allowed to sip from a bottle either going to sleep or during the day. A significantly higher percentage of mothers having caries-free children knew about risk factors of S-ECC and started tooth brushing after the eruption of the first tooth. There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the use of fluoride toothpaste. CONCLUSIONS: Improper infant bottle-feeding habits and no tooth brushing were found to be significant for the development of S-ECC among 3-year-old Lithuanian children.

Evaluation of dental care and the prevalence of tooth decay among middle-aged and elderly population of Kaunas city.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and the intensity of tooth decay among the middle-aged and elderly population of Kaunas, city, and to assess the need for prostheses as well as the possibilities for oral care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: During 2006-2008, we studied 1,141 inhabitants of Kaunas city; the subjects' age was 45-72 years. Oral evaluation technique proposed by the WHO was used in the investigation. We evaluated the prevalence of tooth decay, and its intensity was evaluated using the DMF-T index. We also evaluated dental prostheses, the need for prosthetics, and asked the subjects how they took care of their oral health. RESULTS: The prevalence of tooth decay among middle-aged and elderly population of Kaunas city was 99.9%. The DMF-T index was 21.01+/-0.3 in the age group of 45-54 years, 23.52+/-0.4 - in the age group of 55-64 years, and 25.63+/-0.3 - in the elderly subjects. Full removable dentures were found in 14.0% of the elderly subjects, while 1.0% of the middle-aged subjects and 1.2% of the elderly subjects required full dentures. 57.7% of the subjects aged 45-54 years, 53.1% of the subjects aged 55-64 years, and 43.4% of the elderly subjects brushed their teeth twice daily. CONCLUSIONS: The intensity of tooth decay in middle-aged and elderly population of Kaunas city significantly increased with age (21.01-25.63). A relationship was found between oral hygiene status and the DMF-T index. In the middle-aged and elderly population of Kaunas city, the intensity of tooth decay was significantly lower (DMF-T 23.04%) among those who brushed their teeth twice daily than among those who brushed their teeth once daily or less frequently (DMF-T 24.01%). Reduction of the prevalence of tooth decay among middle-aged and elderly population of Kaunas city necessitates alterations in people's attitudes towards dental care, implementation of suitable hygiene habits, and creation and implementation of the dental disease prevention program for adults and the elderly, based on the strategy proposed by the World Health Organization.

Dental caries prevalence among 12-15-year-olds in Lithuania between 1983 and 2005.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the dynamics of prevalence and severity of dental caries among 12- and 15-year-old schoolchildren in six regions of Lithuania. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 5910 schoolchildren aged 12 and 15 years were examined. Dental caries was diagnosed according to the criteria of World Health Organization. The prevalence of dental caries was calculated by dividing the number of children with caries by the number of all children examined and expressed as percentage. Severity of dental caries was described by DMF-T index. DMF-T indices of individual persons as well as each age group were determined. Oral hygiene was evaluated by a simplified oral hygiene index. Fluoride concentration in Kretinga was 1.6-2.2 ppm; in the other regions, it varied between 0.2 to 0.4 ppm. RESULTS: The prevalence of dental caries among 12-year-olds was 88.4% in 1983 and 85.5% in 2005; among 15-year-olds, it was 95.5% and 92.9%, respectively. Mean DMF-T score decreased from 4.5 (in 1983) to 3.7 (in 2005) among 12-year-olds and from 6.4 (in 1983) to 5.6 (in 2005) among 15-year-olds. Oral hygiene index decreased from 1.69 in 1983 to 1.34 in 2005 among 12-year-olds and from 1.46 to 1.22 among 15-year-olds, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A tendency towards decrease in the prevalence and severity of dental caries was observed, when caries prevention program was running. Correlation between oral hygiene and DMF-T was observed in both age groups. Decreased prevalence and intensity of dental caries among 12- and 15-year-olds were associated with improved oral hygiene, usage of fluoride toothpaste, and fluoride content in drinking water.

[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.

Oral health status and effectiveness of caries prevention programme in kindergartens in Kaunas city (Lithuania).

PURPOSE: To describe oral health status and to evaluate the effectiveness of a caries prevention programme in preschool children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 1656 3- to 7-year-old children were examined in kindergartens in 2002, and 411 3-year-old children were then selected to participate in the prevention programme. The test group A (n = 156), group B (n = 118), and the control group (n = 137) were defined for the study. For test group A, supervised toothbrushing was prescribed and for test group B, fluoride gel applications were used. For the control group, children did not undergo any of the aforementioned procedures. Dental caries was assessed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, and oral hygiene according to the Greene-Vermillion simplified oral hygiene index. Preventive programmes were based on oral hygiene instructions, supervised daily toothbrushing, and fluoride gel applications. The relationship between oral hygiene and severity of dental caries was determined by using Fisher's test. RESULTS: The prevalence of dental caries varied between 39.7% and 90.8%, and the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmf-t) varied between 1.3 +/- 0.16 and 5.0 +/- 0.24. Oral hygiene was satisfactory in 43.2% of children. During the 3 years of the programme, a significant difference was found between the test and the control groups. The reduction in test group A was 45.4% and in test group B was 60.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and severity of dental caries among the examined children increased with age, and was lower in both the test groups compared with the control group. The professional fluoride applications and proper oral hygiene showed the most effective results in caries prevention.

Dental fluorosis and dental caries among 12-yr-old children from high- and low-fluoride areas in Lithuania.

We investigated the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis, and the occurrence of dental caries, among 12-yr-old children from high- and low-fluoride areas in a country with high caries figures and a developing oral healthcare system. The sample included a total of 600 lifetime residents from high-fluoride (HF; 1.7-2.2 ppm) and low-fluoride (LF; 0.2 ppm) areas in Lithuania. The diagnoses of dental fluorosis followed the Thylstrup-Fejerskov Index (TF), and a diagnosis of dental caries followed the World Health Organization criteria. In the HF area, 66% of the 12-yr-old children had dental fluorosis (TF score > 0) compared with 4% in the LF area. The maximum TF severity scores were 7 and 3, respectively. The mean number of teeth with fluorosis was 4.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 4.0, 5.0] for the HF group and 0.2 (95% CI = 0.1, 0.2) for the LF group. In the HF group, 72% had a decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT) score of > 0, compared with 87% in the LF group. The mean DMFT was 2.0 (95% CI = 1.8, 2.3) in the HF group and 3.5 (95% CI = 3.2, 3.8) in the LF group. Current untreated caries (DT) occurred (DT >0) in half of both the HF and LF groups. Regardless of the concentration of fluoride in the drinking water, the prevalence of past (DMFT > 0) and present (DT > 0) caries was high, calling for more emphasis on the prevention of tooth decay in countries, such as Lithuania, with high caries figures and a developing oral healthcare system.

Dynamics of pregnant women's oral health status during preventive programme.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to determine the efficiency of the applied preventive measures during pregnancy and to improve oral health status to pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Oral health status of 180 pregnant women was determined according to WHO criteria (WHO: Basic methods, 1997). Dental caries prevalence, DMF-T and DMF-S were evaluated. Gingival status was estimated according to Silness-Loe (GI) index. Women were asked about tooth brushing frequency; oral hygiene was evaluated according to Green-Vermilion (OHI-S) index. Participants were divided into test (89) and control (91) groups. During pregnancy, the following preventive measures were applied to the test group: fluoride varnish applications, mouthrinsing with 0.12% chlorhexine digluconate, professional oral hygiene. RESULTS: Oral health status was evaluated three times during pregnancy. Reduction in dental caries increment of the test group was 56.25% in comparison with the control group. The periodontal status has improved, oral hygiene index (OHI-S) has decreased from 1.48+/-0.05 to 0.94+/-0.06 in the test group, and from 1.49+/-0.06 to 1.9+/-0.06 in the control group. CONCLUSION: Results of the study showed that selected dental caries preventive measures were effective and significantly improved women's oral health during pregnancy.

[Dental status among schoolchildren in Kaunas and analysis of oral health care]. / Kauno miesto moksleiviu burnos bukles ir odontologines pagalbos analize.

The prevalence of dental caries is very high (98%) among schoolchildren in Lithuania. Effective prevention, early diagnostics, and appropriate treatment of the disease will guarantee good oral health, proper functioning of the dentition. The aim of the present study was to assess the oral status in 7-, 12- and 15-year-old schoolchildren in Kaunas as well as to define the methods of oral health care, quality of the restorations, opinion of the heads of the clinics concerning the oral health care in their institutions. A total of 586 children were examined. The questionnaires were filled out by the heads of the private clinics and primary health care centers. Oral health status was evaluated according to the criteria of World Health Organization. Results of the study showed that the prevalence of dental caries increased with the age of the children ranging from 20.6% among 7-year-olds up to 95.9% among 15-year-olds. The need for dental treatment was found in 38.9% of 7-year-olds and 51.8% of 15-year-olds; 3.8% were in need of prosthodontic treatment. More than a half of fillings (52.5%) were of good quality, and 47.5% had to be replaced. Private clinics had better dental equipment (81.8%) in comparison with the primary health care centers (55.0%). Better instruments and materials were in private clinics (86.4%) than in primary health care centers (40.0%). According to the answers, the heads of the clinics and centers think that better dental service for the patients might be given by better financing of the institutions and effective prevention of dental caries.

[Oral hygiene of preschool children in Kaunas city and their parents' attitude towards children's oral health]. / Kauno miesto ikimokyklinio amziaus vaiku burnos higiena ir ju tevu poziuris i vaiku burnos sveikata.

The aim of the study was to evaluate oral hygiene of the preschool children, their oral hygiene behavior and their parents' attitude towards children's oral health. In the present study 1656 preschool children were examined and 958 parents completed a questionnaire on oral hygiene, parental attitudes to children's oral health. The findings of the study showed that oral hygiene status was not satisfactory even in 43.2% of children (values of Simplified Oral Hygiene Index varied from 1.1 to 6.0). No statistically significant difference was found between boys and girls. According to the parents' answers to the questions about oral hygiene habits it was found that 41.0% of parents brush their teeth irregularly. Fourteen percent of parents brushed their children teeth, only 5.0% of parents started to brush children's teeth when the first tooth erupted, 21.2% took their child to a dentist systematically and 31.7% of children visited the dentist for the first time due dental pain. Nearly a half of parents (44.9%) referred that their children's teeth started to decay at the first year of their lives. However, even 12.0% of parents refused to include their children in preventive program on dental caries.