Assessment of efficiency of the preventive programme on caries prevalence in primary school children

• Published in: Scripta Medica (English Edition) Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 103 - 110
• Main Authors: Knežević Ranka, Ilić Sanja, Arbutina Radmila
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medical Society of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, University of Banja Luka. Faculty of Medicine 01.01.2015
• Subjects: caries; oral health; preventive programme
• ISSN: 2490-3329; 2303-7954

Introduction: According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports, dental caries remains a major tooth disease affecting 60-90% of children and practically 100% of adults and is one of the main reasons for premature loss of teeth. Distribution of caries among school children in their final grades of primary school is highly pronounced and it requires a lot of financial resources for sanation which cannot be provided without reducing pathology and making serious changes in the organisation of preventive dental service. Aim of the study: The aim of the study is to assess the efficiency of implemented preventive activities in lower grades of primary school on the prevalence of caries among children in their final grades. Patients and Methods: The research was conducted longitudinally from September 2005 until March 2013. The research included 100 children of both sexes, 48 girls and 52 boys, who were chosen randomly from two primary schools in Banja Luka. The first school had a school dental clinic and the preventive programme with periodical systematic dental examinations was conducted. The second school didn’t have a school dental clinic and the preventive programme was not conducted there; only systematic dental examinations at the same time when they were conducted in the first school. By conducting dental examination, the number of present permanent teeth, caries presence, existing fillings, and oral hygiene status were recorded. Results: Parameters of health status recorded in the total sample are alarming. The values of CIA index were 1.1 in children aged 6-7 years, 3.2 in children aged 8-9 years and 6.9 in children aged 13-14 years. The values of SIC index ranged from 2.9 in children aged 6-7 years, 4.9 in children aged 8-9 years to 10.7 in children aged 13-14 years. Conclusion: Preventive activities implemented in lower grades of primary school, based on health education of children with demonstration on a model and without additional preventive interventions (fissure sealing, teeth brushing with higher-fluoride- concentration toothpastes), did not have impact on the prevalence of caries in final grades.