FACTORS OF CARIES DEVELOPMENT AND WAYS TO REDUCE THEI IMPACT IN SCHOOL CHILDREN

Abstract

Topic relevance. Dental diseases in children, particularly dental caries, are still requiring approaches and methods of their effective prevention and treatment. Analysis of caries rates in 7 – 9 year children has revealed a probable increase in the prevalence and intensity of caries in permanent teeth over the past 20 years. The aim of the study. Epidemiological studies indicate that the intensity of dental caries among children and adolescents in Ukraine varies from 2 to 5.8 depending on the region of residence. We conducted dental clinical-laboratory examination and performed a questionnaire survey of 223 schoolchildren and their parents in order to determine the main factors of caries occurrence and possibility to influence them. Materials and methods. The statistical significance of the differences between the results obtained for different data groups with normal distribution was determined using Student's t-test. The correlation coefficient was considered significant when the error probability was p<0.05. Results and discussion. The results of the study revealed the greatest increase in the prevalence and intensity of caries in permanent teeth in 7-8 year old children (by 17.3% and 2.4 times respectively) and in 910 year old children (by 21.5% and 2.5 times, respectively). The course of caries in children aged from 7 to 12 occurs against the background of the decrease of pH value and microcrystallization of the oral liquid and is caused by the lowering teeth resistance to caries that is supported by the results of the enamel acid resistance test. In order to reduce the prevalence and intensity of dental caries in children, there is an urgent need to elaborate a proper approach to preventive measures aimed at enhancing the resistance of hard dental tissues. The developed scheme of preventive activities with children is based on regular dental checkups, fostering skills of proper tooth brushing and oral care, providing basic information about caries development and health consequences when it left untreated, options of caries treatment and the basics of good nutrition. Conclusion. Taking control of caries factors will contribute to the strengthening healthy dental tissues and creating favourable conditions for healthy functioning of teeth that will result in the strengthening of oral and general health in children. The application of the elaborated schemes of prognostic assessment of cariesogenic situation and caries prevention measures for children and their parents will reduce the dental caries rates.