Dóra Zsófia Nagy
Semmelweis University, Hungary
Title: Caries risk assessment in children between 6-18 in Budapest, Hungary
Biography
Biography: Dóra Zsófia Nagy
Abstract
Materials and Methods: Dental caries has been a major public health problem for many years in Hungary and still continues to be, affecting in many ways normal growth and development as well as social adaptation of children. A research on caries risk assessment was conducted at the Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at Semmelweis University with
116 children aged 6-18 (mean age: 10, 4). Based on the clinical dental status evaluation the prevalence of dental caries, DMFT, def-t, DF/df-T/t score, and Significant Caries Index (SiC) were calculated. For caries risk assessment the questionnaire of the American Dental Association was filled in by the patients' caretaker. Statistical data analysis was performed by using the
programme Statistica. Results: 83% of the children enrolled in the programme were regarded as 'high risk' patient, 15% as 'moderate risk' and only 2% as 'low risk' patient. The mean DMFT score of all study participants was 1,84 and the def-t score was 2,39. 20% of the patients were caries free. The overall SiC Index was 8,82. The data obtained revealed a significant correlation between caries and frequent sugar consummation, visible plaque accumulation, lack of dental home and high caries prevalence in the family. Discussion: The caries prevalence in children in Budapest declines but still exceeds the WHO recommendations. Therefore, the authors emphasise the importance of caries risk assessment as a prerequisite for appropriate preventive and treatment
intervention decisions.