Assessment of risk factors for periodontal diseases among high school students in Stip

Background: the initiation and progression of periodontal disease depends on several factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status, maintenance of regular oral hygiene. taking into consideration the previously mentioned facts concerning the presence of risk factors and determinants, the main goal was established- to examine the existence and to make analysis of the risk factors and determinants for periodontal disease among the high school students in the area of Municipality of stip. MATERIAL AND METHOD: an examination was conducted in the period from 15 June to 15 september 2017 in three high schools. a total of 230 subjects were examined. at the beginning, each student filled out an anonymous questionnaire. From them, 63 were clinical examinations to determine the objective existence of risk factors. RESULTS: the percentage of people who use additional supplement for maintaining oral hygiene, such as interdentally brushes, dental floss or mouthwash, is small. the percentage of people visiting the dentist for regular checkups is also low. In contrast, the percentage of respondents who consume alcohol or tobacco is high. a high percentage of subjects with initial and moderate gingival inflammation have been found, despite the low percentage of clinical loss of attachment, indicating the possibility of reversibility of changes with improving of oral hygiene. CONCLUSION: there is high presence of risk factors in the examined population. It is necessary to create an educational program for reducing the subjects with different risk factors for different types of periodontal affection