Prevalence and intensity of caries in children

Abstract

Aim. To evaluate the dental health of children in early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence.Materials and Methods. The prevalence and intensity of caries were assessed in 90 children from different age groups: 20 children from the early childhood group (6 years old), 45 children from the middle childhood group (12 years old), and 25 teenagers (15 years old).Results. In the middle childhood group, the “Decayed” component of the DMFT index (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth) starts to appear, showing a clear increase with age. For instance, in teenagers, it is 4.04 ± 2.08, which is more than twice as high as in middle childhood children. A similar trend is observed with the “Filled” component of the index - while it was only 0.1 ± 0.02 in 6-year-old children, this indicator shows a clear increase with age, amounting to 2.15 ± 0.15 in teenagers. Consequently, in teenagers, the “Filled” component prevails at 2.15 ± 0.15, while the “Decayed” component is 1.57 ± 0.13, which is 1.3 times lower.Conclusion. An age-related prevalence and intensity of caries have been established, with the “Decayed” component of the DMFT index characteristically being identified in middle-aged children, with a tendency to increase. Both mothers and children lack sufficient dental education to prevent dental caries and other dental diseases. The survey showed that about two-thirds (84.6%) of the respondents prefer soft foods. A comprehensive revision of the existing methodology for organizing and conducting educational work among children on caries prevention is required.