deciduous teeth | Acta Medica Marisiensis

Clinical Study on the Prevalence of Tooth Decay in a Group of Children in First Year at Elementary School in Tîrgu Mureș

Bereşescu Liana¹, Păcurar Mariana², Petcu Blanka¹, Kovács Mónika³

1 Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
2 Department of Pedodontics-Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania
3 Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tîrgu Mureş, Romania

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of caries in a group of 7 year-old schoolchildren.
Methods: We carried out a survey on a group of 385 children, all pupils in first year at elementary school in Tîrgu Mureş. For the assessment of dental health we used the DMF index: DMF for permanent teeth, and dmf for temporary teeth.
Results: The average value of dmf index was 4.81 (SD 2.82) and the average value of DMF index was 0.92 (SD 1.05).
Conclusions: This study shows that in Tîrgu Mureș the actual level and pattern of dental caries development is extremely severe and there is an urgent need to improve and provide oral health through a preventive program.