CARIES PREVA LENCE AND ORAL HEALTH DETERMINANTS OF 12-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN IN LATVIA

Abstract

Aims: The primary aim was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of caries in 12-years-old children in Latvia. In addition, the severity of periodontal diseases, dental erosion, trauma, fluorosis and mucosal pathologies were assessed.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 95 Latvian schools in 2016, selecting a sample of 3,691 12- years-old children by stratified cluster sampling. Sample size was calculated knowing the number of schoolchildren in the target age group (n=18,801) with expected caries prevalence of 80% and a 95% confidence interval. After parental informed consent, seven calibrated examiners (inter-examiner-Kappa: 0.718-0.767; intra-examiner-Kappa: 0.806-0.974) undertook clinical examinations with a portable medical examination table, forehead lamp light (80-lumen), dental mirrors and CPITN probes using the ICDAS methodology for three levels of caries detection (D1 for ICDAS codes 1-6; D3 for ICDAS 3- 6; D5 for ICDAS 5-6). To evaluate fluorosis, Dean’s index was used and for all other oral health determinants the WHO (2013) methodology was used. Descriptive statistics were calculated.

Results: A total of 2,138 schoolchildren were examined. Caries prevalence was 98.5% (n=2,106) at the non-cavitated level (D1), 79.8% (n=1,706) for cavitated caries (D3) and 71.9% (n=1,537) at the level of frank cavity (D5). Average D1MFT was 9.21, D3MFT was 3.59, and D5MFT was 2.50. The prevalence of gingivitis was 74.4% (n=1,591); 12.1% (n=258) had experienced dental trauma, with enamel fracture being the most common; 2.9% (n=62) were undergoing orthodontic treatment, 0.7% (n=15) had dental erosion, 1.1% (n=24) fluorosis and 1.3% (n=27) oral mucosal pathologies.

Conclusions:, Caries prevalence was very high among Latvian 12-years-old children, with the vast majority having experienced caries. Also, children had a high prevalence of gingivitis, but very low prevalence of other oral diseases. Caries prevention programmes are required for this population.