Epidemiology of gingivitis in schoolchildren in Bucharest, Romania: a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
Gingivitis is the most prevalent oral disease in children, being strongly associated to social gradients. Many studies have reported different results concerning the extent and intra-oral distribution of gingivitis in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiologic parameters and socio-related risk factors of gingivitis in the 10-17-year-old Bucharest schoolchildren population and to analyze its intra-oral distribution.


METHODS
Cross-sectional data were obtained from 1595 schoolchildren, social condition being assigned using a simple questionnaire. Classes of students were used as clusters in a single-stage cluster sampling method. An intra-oral exam was performed for all the children included in this study. Silness and Löe scores, prevalence and the extent of gingivitis were calculated.


RESULTS
The gingival scores showed a mild inflammation and the prevalence of gingivitis was 91%. Boys had a higher gingival (0.19 vs. 0.18; p < 0.05) and plaque scores (0.71 vs. 0.59; p < 0.01) than girls. Children who did not live in overcrowded households, whose parents had a better education and those who had direct access to school dental services displayed better gingival conditions (p < 0.05). Gingivitis was more severe on the upper teeth, with the maximum score being reached at the right upper lateral incisor (0.63 on distal surface).


CONCLUSIONS
Gingival condition in Bucharest schoolchildren population was associated to social gradients. School dental services are also another factor that seems to be related with gingivitis.
Department of Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.|RECIF (Réseau d' Epidémiologie Clinique International Francophone), Bucharest, Romania.
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Funieru
Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Hadassah and Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Klinger
RECIF (Réseau d' Epidémiologie Clinique International Francophone), Bucharest, Romania.|Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
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Băicuș
SCM Dr. Voinoiu, Bucharest, Romania.
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Funieru
Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
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Dumitriu
Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dental Medicine, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
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Dumitriu
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012572:School Health Services; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Romania; distribution; epidemiology; gingivitis