title: Oral health and prophylactic-therapeutic needs of children aged 6 years in Poland in 2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Irrespective of the fact that in developed countries, a reduction of dental caries incidence is observed, it still remains the most common chronic disease affecting children in Poland.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the paper, the results of nationwide epidemiological studies conducted in Poland in 2012 within the framework of the Nationwide Dental Health Monitoring Programme were presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  The children aged 6 years were enrolled into the study. Clinical assessment of oral health status of children was made in accordance with WHO recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of healthy children aged 6 years, who did not have any signs of dental caries manifested with cavity, tooth filling or tooth loss was only 14.4%. On average, only one tooth per child was filled due to dental caries and four out of five teeth affected by dental caries required invasive treatment. Index of conservative treatment was very low and amounted to 0.23 +/- 0.24.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate high caries prevalence and significant prophylactic-therapeutic needs.
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Struzycka
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wierzbicka
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jodkowska
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rusyan
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ganowicz
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fidecki
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data