DYNAMICS OF PERMANENT TEETH CARIES INDICATORS IN CHILDREN AFTER A 2-YEAR PERIOD OF APPLICATION OF PREVENTION SCHEMES

Abstract

Reducing caries rates is directly related to eliminating risk factors for its occurrence. The main goal of a pediatric dentist is to prevent the occurrence of diseases of the hard tissues of the teeth. This can only be achieved through close, ongoing cooperation between children, parents, and the doctor. The aim of our study was to study the caries rates in children after applying preventive work schemes with them and their parents for 2 years. Materials and methods. Two observation groups were created: 1 – 25 people with whom we communicated 2 times a year, 2 – 31 children with whom we communicated 1 time a year. During the first examination, the children were 10–12 years old, after 2 years – these are children aged 12–14 years. Results. During each visit to the dentist, children and their parents were given health and educational work to eliminate risk factors for caries, teach and monitor oral hygiene, and emphasize the need for parents to monitor the implementation of preventive measures by children. This made it possible to achieve a significant reduction in the increase in caries in children who were observed 2 times a year compared to children who visited a pediatric dentist once a year. The rate of reduction in caries growth in the first observation group, where preventive and therapeutic measures were carried out twice a year, reached 74.15%, while in the second group, in which children underwent preventive control once a year, this rate was 49.32%. It was found that the effectiveness of preventive work largely depended on the level of compliance with the doctor’s recommendations by children and constant control by guardians. Conclusions. Therefore, only regular visits to the dentist and close cooperation with parents make it possible to reduce caries rates in children.