Introduction: Dental caries is the most common oral disease in all age groups. Being more and more frequent in preschool and school-age children, it has become one of the most important problems in oral pathology. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of dental caries in schoolchildren aged 12 and 15 years in the northern part of Kosovo and Metohija, as well as to inform them about the importance of oral health. Materials and Methods: The study included 626 schoolchildren of both sexes from five schools from the municipalities of Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvečan and Leposavić. Klein-Palmer DMFT system (D-Decayed, M-Missing, F-filled) was used to estimate the prevalence of dental caries the following indices were also used: Person Caries Index, Teeth Caries Index, Average Caries Index and DMFT structure. All the selected children were examined using standard dental diagnostic agents. Tooth surfaces were examined dry under artificial lighting. Results: The average value of DMFT index for children aged 12 and 15 years was 4.2. On average, 92.3% of the examined children had caries. The mean value of caries index was 15.11%.Conclusion: After these new epidemiological studies, it can be concluded that the state of children's oral health, considering the high levels of untreated caries and all other features of DMFT index, is not satisfactory. This situation points to the necessity of applying modern preventive and prophylactic measures to preserve and improve the population oral health.
Marthaler T. Changes in dental caries 1953-2003. Caries Res. 2004;(3):173–81.
2.
Clark D, Berkowitz J. The influence of various fluoride exposures on the prevalence of esthetic problems resulting from dental fluorosis. J Public Health Dent. 1997;(3):144–9.
3.
Beltrán-Aguilar E, Barker L, Canto M, Dye B, Gooch B, Griffin S. Surveillance for dental caries, dental sealants,tooth retention, edentulism, and enamel fluorosis-United States. MMWR Surveill Summ. 1988;(3):1–43.
4.
Petersen P. Changing oral health profiles of children in Central and Eastern Europe-Challenges for the 21st century. IC Digest. 2003;12–3.
5.
Bratthall D, Petersen P, Stjernswärd J, Brown L;, Jamison D, Breman J, et al. Oral and craniofacial diseases and disorders. 2006;723–37.
6.
Đuričković M, Ivanović M. Stanje oralnog zdravlja kod dece uzrasta od 12 godina u Crnoj Gori. Vojnosanit Pregl. 2011;550–5.
7.
Davidović B, Ivanović M, Janković S. Dental Health Estimation for Children Age Twelve and Fifteen. Serbian Dental Journal. 2012;
8.
Almeida C, Et. Changing oral helath status of 6-and 12-year-oldschoolchildren in Portugal. 2003;211–6.
9.
Pitts N, Et. The dental caries experience of 12-year-oldchildren in England and Wels. Surveys coordinated -y theritish Association for the study of Community Denistry in 2000-11. 2002;46–53.
10.
Hobdell M, Petersen P, Clarkson J, Johnson N. Global goals for oral health 2020. Int Dent J. 2003;285–8.
11.
Johansson V, Söderfeldt B, Axtelius B. Oral B’s Nordic Report on Oral Health. Caries Prevalence Among Children, Adolescents and Adults, and Periodontal Conditions among Adults in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. 2007;
12.
Almeida D, Petersen C, P, André J, Toscano S, A. Changing oral health status of 6-and 12-year-old school children in Portugal. Community Dental Health. 2003;2116.
13.
World Health Organization. Oral Health Country, Caries for 12-years -olds by Country/ Area WHO Region. 2004;
14.
Yabao R, Duante C, Velandria F, Lucas M, Kassu A, Nakamori M. Prevalence of dental caries and sugar consumption among 6-12-y-old schoolchildren. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2005;(12):1429–38.
15.
Silla A, J, Company M, J. Oral health survey of the child population in the Valencia Region of Spain. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2004;(4):369–81.
16.
Zusman S, Ramon T, Natapov L, Kooby E. Dental health of 12-year-olds in Israel-2002. Community Dent Health. 2005;(3):175–9.
17.
Herrera M, Medina-Solis C, Maupomé G. Prevalence of dental caries in 6-12-year-old schoolchildren in Leon, Nicaragua. Gac Sanit. 2005;(4):302–6.
18.
Lj K, Aleksić B, Igić M, Šurdilović D, Tričković-Janjić O, Medicinski. socijalni i ekonomski značaj postojanja školske stomatološke nege. Acta stomatologica Naissi. 2011;1043–58.
19.
Ivanović M, Carević M, Marković D, Vulićević Z, Stevanović R, Petrović V. Protokoli u stomatologiji. 2009;
20.
Ivanović M, Carević M, Marković D. Program preventivne stomatološke zdravstvene zaštite dece i omladine. Zbornik referata i radova XXVI simpozijuma zdravstvenog vaspitanja u stomatologiji. Kragujevac Stomatološki glasnik Srbije. 2010;36–44.
21.
Muratbegović A, Marković N, Kobašlija S, Zukanović A. Indeksi oralnog zdravlja i hipomineralizacija kutnjaka i sjekutića kod bosanske djece u dobi od 12 godina. Acta Stomatol Croat. 2008;155–63.
22.
Vrbič V. Reasons for caries decline in Slovenia. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2000;126–32.
23.
Campus G, Solinas G, Cagetti M, Senna A, Minelli L, Majori S. National pathfinder survey of 12-year-old children’s oral health in Italy. Caries Res. 2007;512–7.
The statements, opinions and data contained in the journal are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publisher and the editor(s). We stay neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.