Significant Caries Index among young people in Belarus

Objectives: To determine the caries prevalence among 18-year old young people, expressed as SiC Index and assess their dental status and oral health behavior. Methods: 551 18-year old medical students were examined and asked to complete a questionnaire regarding their oral health habits. Mean DMFT, SiC index (D. Bratthall, 2000) and OHI-S (Green-Vermillion, 1964) were assessed for this age group. Results: the SiC index was observed at 12.42+/-3.07 whereas mean DMFT was 7.41+/-4.41 (p<0.05). Average OHI-S value was 1.70+/-0.97. The majority of subjects among 1/3 of examined population with highest caries scores (n=184) assessed their oral health as «satisfactory» - 50%, «bad» - 13% and «unsatisfactory» - 4%. Most of people (74%) were brushing their teeth two times a day. There was no difference of DMFT and OHI-S among patients brushing their teeth once or two times a day (p>0.05). The percent of young people who used for everyday tooth brushing fluoridated toothpastes was 84%. Only 2% of participants were visit dentist for dentist's recall and 33% answered that they visited dentist for checkup examination. There was difference (p<0.05) in DMFT among patients visited dentist by the reason of discomfort (7.92+/-4.40) as compare with those who visited dentist for prevention (6.53+/-4.28). The people, who visited dentist one or two times a year had significantly lower «D» component of DMFT (1.82+/-2.45) than the people who visited dentist rarely (2.34+/-2.76), p<0.05. Conclusions: 1. The SiC index was approximately two times higher (12.42+/-3.07) than mean DMFT (7.41+/-4.41) among 18 years of age people. 2. The association between bad dental status and unhealthy habits was established among highest caries scores group of young people.