The dissertation is devoted to improving the effectiveness of dental caries prevention in children with dentoalveolar anomalies by taking into account psycho-emotional factors, particularly the level of dental anxiety. The relevance of the study is обусловлена the high prevalence of dental caries in childhood, a significant increase in the frequency of dentoalveolar anomalies, and the complexity of maintaining adequate oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment. The presence of orthodontic appliances creates additional plaque-retentive areas, which significantly increases caries risk, especially in children with elevated levels of anxiety.
In recent years, an increase in the number of children with high levels of dental anxiety has been observed, which negatively affects the development of oral hygiene skills, motivation for preventive care, and adherence to the dentist’s recommendations. Most scientific studies focus separately on dental caries or dentoalveolar anomalies; however, there are only limited investigations assessing the combined impact of orthodontic pathology and a child’s psycho-emotional state on the development of dental caries.
To achieve the study objectives, children with dentoalveolar anomalies from different age groups were examined. The intensity and prevalence of dental caries, oral hygiene status, and the level of dental anxiety were assessed using standardized psychodiagnostic scales. Based on anxiety scores, the children were divided into groups with low, moderate, and high levels of anxiety. The relationship between anxiety level, the presence of dentoalveolar anomalies, oral hygiene indicators, and caries intensity was analyzed.
It was established that children with dentoalveolar anomalies and high levels of anxiety demonstrated statistically significantly worse caries intensity and oral hygiene indices compared with children with low anxiety levels. Increased anxiety was found to be associated with reduced motivation for regular tooth brushing, insufficient use of individual oral hygiene products, and irregular dental visits. During orthodontic treatment, these negative factors were exacerbated, creating conditions for the rapid progression of dental caries.
Based on the obtained results, differentiated caries prevention programs for children with dentoalveolar anomalies were scientifically substantiated and developed, taking into account the level of dental anxiety. The proposed programs include individualized oral hygiene regimens, the use of remineralizing and fluoride-containing agents, as well as elements of psychological adaptation of the child to dental treatment. Implementation of the developed preventive measures resulted in improved oral hygiene status, reduced caries increment, and increased adherence to preventive recommendations.
The obtained results indicate that the level of dental anxiety is a significant modifying risk factor for the development of dental caries in children with dentoalveolar anomalies and should be mandatorily considered when planning preventive programs. The proposed approach contributes to improving the quality of caries prevention and optimizing dental care for the pediatric population.
