Oral health of patients referred to orthodontist

Uvod: Zubni karijes, iako lako preventabilan, predstavlja i dalje značajan javnozdravstveni problem. Zdrava denticija i dobra oralna higijena osnova su za uključivanje pacijenata s malokluzijama u ortodontsku terapiju. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ispitati oralno zdravlje pacijenata upućenih ortodontu. Ispitanici i postupci: U presječnoj studiji analizirana je zdravstvena dokumentacija 351 osobe u dobi od 6 do 23 godine (55% ženskih osoba) koje su primarni doktori dentalne medicine uputili na prvi ortodontski pregled na Kliniku za dentalnu medicinu Kliničkog bolničkog centra u Rijeci tijekom 2014. i 2015. godine. Ispitana je prevalencija karijesa, intenzitet aktivnog karijesa te karijes iskustva u ovisnosti o spolu i tipu denticije. Rezultati: Prevalencija karijesa mliječnih zubi u djece upućene specijalisti ortodoncije je 68%, intenzitet aktivnog karijesa 3,6, a karijes iskustva 2,4. Prevalencija karijesa trajnih zubi u djece upućene specijalisti ortodoncije je 28%, intenzitet aktivnog karijesa 5,5, a karijes iskustva 1,5. Mliječni zubi često su kariozni, a trajni tretirani ispunom. Nema povezanosti sa spolom. Zaključci: Oralno zdravlje djece i adolescenata upućenih specijalisti ortodoncije u Hrvatskoj je loše. Primarni doktori dentalne medicine učestalo upućuju osobe nesanirane denticije čime se odgađa njihovo uključivanje u ortodontsku terapiju. Potrebno je educirati primarne doktore dentalne medicine o nužnosti upućivanja pacijenata specijalisti ortodoncije sa saniranom usnom šupljinom i optimalne oralne higijene.Introduction: Although dental caries is easily preventable, it still represents a significant public health problem. Healthy dentition and good oral hygiene are the basis for the inclusion of patients with malocclusions into orthodontic treatment. The objective of this research was to assess the oral health of patients referred to an orthodontist. Subjects and methods: In the cross sectional study, dental records of 351 patients aged 6-23 years (55% females), referred to orthodontist by their general dentist during years 2014 and 2015 at the Dental Clinic, University Medical Center Rijeka, were analyzed. Also, prevalence of caries, severity of active caries and caries experience in relation to gender and dentition type were analyzed. Results: Prevalence of primary teeth caries of children referred to orthodontist was 68%, severity of active caries was 3.6, and caries experience 2.4. Prevalence of permanent teeth caries of children referred to orthodontist was 28%, severity of active caries was 5.5, and caries experience 1.5. Deciduous teeth were more often carious and permanent ones were more often treated with dental fillings. There were no significant gender related differences. Conclusions: Oral health of children and adolescents referred to orthodontist in Croatia is poor. General dentists frequently send patients with dentition which is not healthy to orthodontist and thus postpone their inclusion in orthodontic treatment. It is necessary to educate general dentists to establish healthy status of all oral tissues and optimal level of oral hygiene before referring them to orthodontist