Analysis of dental caries prevention program in 7–12-year-old Lithuanian schoolchildren

Kristina Saldūnaitė, Alina Pūrienė¹, Simona Milčiuvienė, Vilma Brukienė¹, Jelena Kutkauskienė²

Kaunas University of Medicine, Oral Health and Pediatric Dentistry, ¹Institute of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, ²Faculty of Law, Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania

Key words: schoolchildren; dental caries; sealants; preventive program.

Summary. Objective. The present study aimed to assess dental status in 7–12-year-old Lithuanian children and to evaluate the extent and the efficiency of the Pit and Fissure Sealing in Permanent Molars program.

Material and methods. This cross-sectional study was performed between September 2007 and May 2008. Children, aged 7–12 years, from secondary schools in five biggest cities of Lithuania were invited for the examination using a cluster random sampling method. The data for the present study were collected following the general principles for basic oral health surveys of the World Health Organization.

Results. The prevalence of dental caries was 85.5%, 88.9%, and 70.6% in 7–8-, 9–10-, and 12-year olds, respectively. The prevalence of dental caries in permanent molars increased with age and became as high as 57.7% in 12-year-old children. The data showed that the mean number of sealed teeth depends on the county and ranged from 0.83 (1.31) to 1.45 (1.85) in 7–8-year olds, from 0.95 (1.29) to 2.54 (1.15) in 9–10-year olds, and from 0.26 to 2.13 (1.15) in 12-year olds.

Conclusions. The prevalence and incidence of dental caries in 7–12-year-old Lithuanian children are high. Only half of all examined children have at least one sealed molar. The financial resources allocated for the Pit and Fissure Sealing in Permanent Molars program were used insufficiently; therefore, there is a need for systematic measures in order to improve the efficacy of the aforementioned program.

Correspondence to K. Saldūnaitė, Department of Oral Health and Pediatric Dentistry, Kaunas University of Medicine, J. Lukšos-Daumanto 6, 50106 Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail: vaikstom@med.kmu.lt

Received 20 February 2009, accepted 5 November 2009