title: [Frequency of oral health examinations in the group of people aged 20-54 years considering the status of cigarette smoking].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Regular examinations of oral health allow dentists clinical assessment of the state of dentition and oral soft tissues in patients, early diagnosis and treatment of the diagnosed disease entity, identification of risk factors of oral diseases as well as prophylaxis and pro-health education. Aim of the study was analysis of the frequency of oral health examination in the group of people in aged 20-54 with considering sociodemographic data and the status of cigarette smoking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sociomedical examinations were conducted in the group of 124 people in the age of 20-54. In order to assess the status of cigarette smoking cotinine concentration in non-stimulated saliva was assayed with the use of Cotinine test (Calbiotech, USA). Statistic analysis of the obtained results was performed with the use of Chi2 and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Test values considered to be statistically significant were those of p<0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  32.76% smokers and 9.09% non-smokers had their dental appointment less frequently than once a year to have their oral health examined, whereas regular dental check-ups every six months were declared by 43.10% and 56.06% and once a year 24.14% and 34.85% respectively. In the group of smokers no correlation was stated between the frequency of their dental check-ups and their age (H=1.12, p>0.05), sex (chi2=0.09, p>0.05) and place of residence (chi2=1.66, p>0.05). In the group of non-smokers no correlations were stated between the age (H=4.39, p>0.05), sex (chi2=1.01, p>0.05), place of residence (chi2=2.40, p>0.05) and the frequency of oral health check-ups. Non smokers have their dental check-ups every six months essentially more frequently than smokers (chi2 = 10.80, p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age, sex, place of residence do not influence the frequency of oral health examinations among people in the aged 20-54. Non smokers have their dental check-ups every six months essentially more frequently than smokers.
authors.forename: Martsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakonieczna-Rudnickai
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bachaneka
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kobyłecka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003367:Cotinine / Q000032:analysis; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012907:Smoking; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003367:Cotinine