Stomatologiczne zachowania prozdrowotne a stan uzębienia łódzkiej młodzieży 18-letniej

*Joanna Królewska-Gawarzyńska

Summary
Introduction. Health-related dental behaviours include: systematic and regular tooth brushing, an adequate frequency of routine dental visits, a suitable diet and regular and proper oral hygiene.
Aim. To assess the impact of health-related behaviours on the development of dental caries in adolescents at the age of 18 years attending schools in Łódź.
Material and methods. The group of participants of the study that was carried out in 2013 included 209 eighteen-year-old high schools students in the city of Łódź. The study was conducted using a questionnaire survey containing questions about dental health-related behaviours. Dental status was assessed according to the method recommended by the World Health Organization. A comparative analysis of dental status was made using the caries intensity index (DMFT) and the caries prevalence index. In accordance with the model of positive dental behaviours, created for the purposes of this study the DMFT index and caries prevalence index were compared in young adolescents meeting the model criteria and other participants of the study.
Results. It was demonstrated that the percentage of the 18-year-olds who had dental appointments every six months amounted to 40.7%. The percentage of adolescents who brushed their teeth twice a day was 80.4 and there was only 11.0% of those who brushed their teeth more often than twice a day. Sweets were eaten occasionally or never by 29.7% of the 18-year-olds. The DMFT index for the whole test group of the 18-year-olds was 6.58 and the caries prevalence index was 79.4%. The criteria established for the purposes of this study as well as the compliance with the model of positive dental behaviours were met only by 9.6% of the participants of the study. In the group of the 18-year-olds who satisfied the model assumptions the DMFT index was 5.2, and the caries prevalence index was 7.0% whereas in the group of the adolescents who failed to meet the model assumptions, the DMF index was 7.17 and the caries prevalence index was 80.4%. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant.
Conclusions. The proposed model of health-related behaviours demonstrated a positive impact on the values of the caries intensity and prevalence indices.

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