[Analysis of dental caries prevention program in 7-12-year-old Lithuanian schoolchildren].
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to assess dental status in 7-12-year-old Lithuanian children and to evaluate the extent and the efficiency of the Pit and Fissure Sealing in Permanent Molars program.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was performed between September 2007 and May 2008. Children, aged 7-12 years, from secondary schools in five biggest cities of Lithuania were invited for the examination using a cluster random sampling method. The data for the present study were collected following the general principles for basic oral health surveys of the World Health Organization.


RESULTS
The prevalence of dental caries was 85.5%, 88.9%, and 70.6% in 7-8-, 9-10-, and 12-year olds, respectively. The prevalence of dental caries in permanent molars increased with age and became as high as 57.7% in 12-year-old children. The data showed that the mean number of sealed teeth depends on the county and ranged from 0.83 (1.31) to 1.45 (1.85) in 7-8-year olds, from 0.95 (1.29) to 2.54 (1.15) in 9-10-year olds, and from 0.26 to 2.13 (1.15) in 12-year olds.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence and incidence of dental caries in 7-12-year-old Lithuanian children are high. Only half of all examined children have at least one sealed molar. The financial resources allocated for the Pit and Fissure Sealing in Permanent Molars program were used insufficiently; therefore, there is a need for systematic measures in order to improve the efficacy of the aforementioned program.
Saldūnaite
Kristina
K
Kaunas University of Medicine, Department of Oral Health and Pediatric Dentistry, Kaunas, Lithuania. vaikstom@med.kmu.lt
Pūriene
Alina
A
Milciuviene
Simona
S
Brukiene
Vilma
V
Kutkauskiene
Jelena
J
D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D008963:Molar; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014944:World Health Organization
D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants