The most urgent problem of modern dentistry is dental caries. This is due to the influence of a number of unfavorable factors and the low effectiveness of the general caries preventive events and programs. The purpose of the study is a retrospective analysis of the prevalence and intensity of dental caries in children of different ages living in the city of Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, for the period of 11 years. Material and methods. We analyzed statistical reports on the work of the children's dental service in the city of Kramatorsk, Donetsk region for the period from 2006 to 2016. Taking into account the prevalence and intensity of dental caries in indices kp, KPU + kp and KPU in children aged 3, 6, 12 and 15 years. During this time period, 551876 children were examined. Depending on the age of the children, the rates of tooth decay were different. Reliably (p<0.05), the intensity index was the largest, as well as the prevalence, in children of 6 years, on average, over 11 years it was 3.49 ± 0.13. The lowest intensity was for 3-year-old children – 2.21 ± 0.14 (р<0.05). In the age groups of children of 12 and 15 years, the mean indices of caries intensity did not practically differ (p<0.05) – 2.71 ± 0.07 and 2.78 ± 0.08, respectively. Thus, by the age of six, the intensity of tooth decay in children is more than 1.5 times higher than in children, and from the low according to the classification, WHO is moving into the category of the middle. In the older age, a decrease in the intensity of caries is observed, which is possibly due to the end of the period of physiological change of teeth and the complete "withdrawal" of the temporary teeth previously affected by the carious process. Results and discussion. It was found out that the prevalence of dental caries in children aged 3 to 15 years in the period from 2006 to 2016 was 54.27 ± 1.90%, the index of caries intensity was 2.79 ± 0.11, which, according to WHO recommendations, is considered an average. At the same time, the maximum prevalence of dental caries in children was recorded in 2007 - 62.63 ± 1.61%, the minimum was in 2008 - 46.55 ± 1.47%. Moreover, the index of caries intensity in 2008 was the highest – 3.31 ± 0.09, the smallest was recorded in 2011 – 2.32 ± 0.13. Conclusions. The analysis showed that, in general, the prevalence and intensity of dental caries in children living in the city of Kramatorsk corresponds to the average level. At the same time, reliable differences of the corresponding indicators, which are characteristic for children of different age groups, are revealed in certain time periods. In future studies, it is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of mass caries preventive activities that were carried out according to various algorithms and schemes among the children of Kramatorsk, including in organized contingents, and develop detailed recommendations for caries prevention for children of various ages, taking into account the analysis of effectiveness and possible individualization.
Keywords: children, teeth, caries, prevalence, intensity
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