title: Oral health conditions in an Albanian adolescent population: an epidemiological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine the oral health conditions of an adolescent population of Tirana.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional epidemiological study was carried out in a sample (n = 1885), aged 16-19, mean age 17.4 (SD = 1.0), attending public schools in Tirana and province; 1200 adolescents were included into the analysis. A clinical observation without radiographs was conducted in the medical room of the schools during the 2012-2013 school year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Very severe and severe orthodontic treatment need, grade 5 and 4 of IOTN (Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need), were found in 17.0 % of the sample. DMFT (Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth) was 4.9, whereas OHI (Oral Hygiene Index) was documented in the highest number of subjects (n = 384), 32 % of the total sample possessed "good" grade of oral hygiene. CPI (Community Periodontal Index) was observed at score 0 (healthy gingival condition) in most of the subjects (53.1 %), score 1 (gingival bleeding) in 33.4 % of the total sample. PI (Plaque Index) results showed 43.9 % of the sample (527 subjects) with score 0.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study findings highlight the need for preventive care programs to improve oral health conditions as well as to reduce oral pathology risk factors in Albania.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. giuseppinalagana@libero.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laganà
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Tirana, Albania. y_abazi@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yllka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abazi
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Tirana, Albania. evisbeshiri@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Evisi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beshiri Nastasi
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Tirana, Albania. franceskavinjolli@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Françesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vinjolli
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Rome, Italy. franzfabi76@libero.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. divizia@uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Divizia
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. paolacozza@alice.it.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cozza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067697:Adolescent Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000415:Albania / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D061326:Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010512:Periodontal Index; D018881:Suburban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult