Caries indices were analyzed in children of 7-9 years examined in 2017 and in 1996-1997. A reliable increase of occurrence (from 9,62±4,63% in 1997-1998 to 30,02±9,07% in 2017) and intensity (0,17±0,06 of teeth against 0,47±0,13 teeth) of permanent teeth caries was found in recent 20 years.
Investigation of the indices of caries occurrence and intensity of the temporary and permanent teeth in children aged from 7 to 12 in Poltava and Chernivtsi, comparative characteristics of results at every age period with detection of the most risky social0hygienic factors concerning caries occurrence, has found that the age from 7 to 8 and from 9 to 10 is the most susceptible due to physiological peculiarities and hygienic factors promoting caries occurrence of the permanent teeth in children. The results of the investigation conducted have found the highest growth of the indices of caries occurrence and intensity of the permanent teeth in children in the period from 7 to 8 years (by 17,3% and 2,4 times respectively) and from 9 to 10 years (by 21,5% and 2,5 times respectively). Hygiene level in children with caries is always worse (unsatisfactory), than in children without caries (satisfactory) irrespective of age and sex.
The investigated data concerning the state of oral hygiene, acid resistance of the enamel, salivation rate, pH, viscosity, micro-crystallization of the oral fluid in children are indicative of their worse indices in children with caries at different age periods.
A high correlation dependence with the test of enamel resistance (rs=0,76 – direct high), level of micro-crystallization (rs=-0,85 – reverse high) of the oral fluid and its viscosity (rs =0,79 – direct high); an average correlation with hygiene index according to Fedorov-Volodkina (rs =0,56 direct average), Green-Vermillion index (rs =0,50 – direct average), salivation rate (rs =-0,55 reverse average) and рН (rs =-0,66- reverse average) of the oral fluid were found in children with caries aged 7-12. The effect of social-hygienic factors on the teeth afflicted with caries in children of various school age and interrelations of these factors with homeostasis state of the oral cavity are studied for the first time.
Development of caries in children aged 7-12 years occurred against the ground of decreased pH index and micro-crystallization of the oral fluid. It is caused by decreased resistance of the teeth to caries, which is evidenced by the results of examination of enamel acid stability and resistance. A reverse correlation between the index of enamel acid stability and mineralizing potential was found in children with caries (r=-0,73 – strong index) and рН (r=-0,66 – reverse considerable) of the oral fluid. A direct strong relation is found between pH index and mineralizing potential of the oral fluid (r=0,79) in these children.
Negative correlations of caries occurrence in children with their awareness concerning oral care were found to be obtained by means of TV, scientific-popular literature, from friends (R=-0,16, р<0,05, R=-0,14, р<0,05, R=-0,23, р<0,002 respectively), but none of the correlations was found concerning information got from parents and doctors. Direct correlations of caries development in children were found with their behavioral peculiarities and social factors: place of residence (living in the countryside, R=0,21; р<0,005), anxiety while visiting a dentist (R=0,18; р<0,01), attending a private teacher (R=0,16; р<0,02), attending clubs at school (R=0,24; р<0,001), attempts to smoke and drink alcohol (R=0,19; р<0,01), much time spent doing homework (R=0,16; р<0,02), a computer at home available (R=0,14; р<0,05), negative associations while visiting dental preventive examinations (R=-0,16; р<0,02), attending sport clubs (R=-0,14; р<0,05).
Analysis of the total effect of social factors and caries intensity demonstrated a pronounced relations (R=0,84; р<0,001) of a number of factors (the action of total factors: lack of visits to a dentist for preventive examinations, cleaning teeth, neglect of auxiliary oral hygienic means and unawareness about them, regular and well-balanced diet, insufficient awareness concerning causes of caries occurrence, lack of medical information on this fact, visiting a dentist only when toothache appears, anxiety while visiting a dentist) determined by parents’ questionnaire survey; and smaller group of factors (lack of visits to a dentist for preventive examinations, insufficient awareness concerning causes of caries occurrence, visiting a dentist only when toothache appears, anxiety while visiting a dentist, insufficient awareness concerning auxiliary oral hygienic means) indicated by children (R= 0,48; р<0,001). In order to prevent caries occurrence in children the schemes of conducting preventive work for children and their parents are introduced on the basis of the most substantial social-hygienic factors isolated.
