Prevalence of Dental Caries in Relation to Determinants of Oral Health Status among 11-14-Year-Old Schoolchildren in Western Region of Romania

Abstract

Aim and objectives: The present study, part of the first national oral health survey for children in Romania, aimed to determine the correlation between the prevalence of dental caries and the impact of dietary factors on oral health status in 11-14-year-old schoolchildren from the western region of Romania. Material and methods: Data was collected from a representative sample of 133 schoolchildren (72 boys and 61 girls), average age of 12.26± 0.6, and then examined by calibrated dentists. The University ethics committee approved the study. ICDAS criteria were used to classify visual caries lesion severity. Statistical analyses of the data were performed by SPSS 23, Spearman’s rank correlation and the Pearson correlation was used. Results: The DMFT index determined for the sample was 2.93±2.70. The results showed a significant positive correlation among boys who consume fresh fruits (0.17**), cookies, biscuits, cream, sweet pies, sweet rolls (0.27**), jam/honey (0.14**), sugar-sweetened chewing gum (0.38**). Statistically significant positive relationship was highlighted among girls who consume cookies, cakes, cream, sweet pies, sweet rolls (0.33**), sugar-sweetened chewing gum (0.35**). There is a statistically significant positive relationship between the consumption of sweetened beverages (0.24**), candies/sweets (0.18*), sweetened tea (0.24**), and DMFT. Conclusions: The prevalence and severity of dental caries in 11-14-year-old Romanian children from the western region of the country are strongly influenced by their socio-economic environment, as well as their specific consumption behaviors, such as the consumption of carbonated beverages, milk, sweets, tea, and cocoa.