title: Caries experience and treatment needs among Albanian 12-year-olds.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the dental caries experience and treatment needs among 12-year-olds in Albania.
  
  
  METHODS
  This 2011 cross sectional survey used cluster sampling with DMFT and SiC indexes used to assess dental caries experience; DT/DMFT to assess untreated caries; FT/DMFT the care index and MT/DMFT as missing index.
  
  
  METHODS
  1928 12-year-olds selected from state schools across 16 local districts with a mix of urban and rural areas and contrasting socio-economic groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  WHO protocols were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The caries prevalence (DMFT > 0) was 87% (95%CI 85.6,88.4) and 29.6% were without cavitated carious lesions (DT = 0). The mean caries experience (DMFT) was 3.73 (sd 2.71) for boys, 3.71 (sd 2.61, p = 0.88) for girls and 3.72 (sd 2.66) overall. The caries treatment needs DT/DMFT was 56% (sd 0.36), the mean FT/DMFT (Care Index) was 31% (sd 0.34) and the mean SiC index was 6.72 (sd 1.92).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dental caries experience and untreated dental caries were high compared with 12-year-olds in most European Union Member States. This suggests an urgent need for a national preventive program and improved access to oral care for this age group.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hysi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Droboniku
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toti
mesh_terms: D000415:Albania / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data