Preventively significant information on big city residents’ dental status discovered during epidemiological study according to the questionnaire survey

Abstract

Relevance. Effective preventive programs cannot be developed without studying the issue using population epidemiological survey.

Purpose. Improving efficiency of dental diseases preventionbasing on the information obtained during an epidemiological survey of Izhevsk citizens.

Materials and methods. 107 residents were examined according to WHO criteria in representative age categories: n = 57 (63.3%) in the category from 35 to 44 years old; n = 50 (46.7%) - from 65 to 88 years; n = 83 (77.6%) women (54.9 ± 1.9 years); n = 24 (22.4%) men (53.7 ± 3.7 years). The study was random and voluntary, the conclusions are based on the results of statistical analysis.

Results. The respondents’ menu included products with a cariogenic effect: fruits (4.27 ± 0.09 on a 6-point scale), cookies (3.66 ± 0.11), jam or honey (3.56 ± 0.13), pies (3.48 ± 0.12), coffee (3.33 ± 0.13), tea (3.25 ± 0.13), chewing gums (3.21 ± 0.13 points), sweets (3.05 ± 0.12), beverages (3.02 ± 0.14). Respondents brushed their teeth 2 times (67.3%) or 1 time daily (30.8%), some of them used flosses (14.0%). Prevalence (p < 0.001) of positiveteeth(61.7%) and gums (72.8%) conditionappraisalmust be conceived as subjective perception. Considering “satisfactory” and “unsatisfactory” as similar critical manifestation negative assessment of the respondents reliably prevails (p <0.001). Respondents visited dentist when they felt pain (91.6%). Most of them (93.5%) advised of a partial lack of teethand the need for prosthetics.

Conclusion. Cariogenic diet, lack of interdental hygiene and a check-upculture define Izhevsk citizensas potentialdentist patients. Forming preventive programs we have to explain the importance of interdental hygiene; dental care should be refocused from the category of forced demand to the category of preventive conscious demand in the mind of citizens. Due to the high educational levelwe can hope for the effectiveness of prevention programs among Izhevsk citizens.