Oral health status among schoolchildren in Romania, 1992.

In Romania, systematic information on the occurrence of oral diseases in children is scarce. The purpose of the present study was to describe the prevalence and the pattern of dental caries in schoolchildren, and to use the data to provide a baseline for planning and evaluation of oral health care. A national sample of children at grade 1 (n = 729) and grade 6 (n = 660) was chosen consistent with the WHO pathfinder principle. Clinical examinations were carried out according to the recording system for the Danish Municipal Dental Service and the following results were obtained. In children of grade 1 (7-yr-olds) the prevalence proportion of caries in primary teeth was 86% and in permanent teeth 39%. The mean caries indices were 11.4 defs and 1.3 DMFS. At grade 6 (12-yr-olds) the prevalence proportion of caries in primary teeth was 17% and in permanent teeth 90%. The mean caries experience was 0.8 defs and 6.5 DMFS, and a mean of 4.1 DMFT was observed. In both groups, the D-component of the caries index was dominant. The children were also classified by caries severity zone. At grade 1, 61% had a very severe pattern of caries in the primary teeth, i.e. caries in pits/fissures, proximal surfaces, smooth surfaces, and incisors. Forty-three percent of the children at grade 6 showed this pattern in permanent teeth. In Romanian schoolchildren the present level and pattern of dental caries are most severe and the implementation of oral health promotion and prevention at the community level is urgently needed.

[Possibilities for orthodontic treatment in adults]. / Posibilitati de tratament ortodontic la adulti.

Following a discussion on the controversial opinions concerning the orthodontial treatment in adults, as well as on the fact that in many cases the orthodontial treatments in adults are much shorter than in children, the authors present data on eight cases reflecting the possibilities of orthodontial therapy in adults. The authors stress the necessity that the orthodontist should recognize the limitations of such therapy in adults, increasing in this way the possibilities for a successful therapy.

[Orthodontics problems of the first permanent molar tooth]. / Din problematica ortodonica a primului molar permanent.

Following a series of theoretical considerations on normal occlusion, and on the interrelationship between the dentomaxillary apparatus and the central nervous system the authors approach two practical aspects:--the effects of an early loss of the first permanent molar tooth in the autochtonous child population, and--the solving of occluding changes in the sagittal plane. With regard to the first aspect a study was carried out in 246 patients aged between 11 and 18 years. In 48 of the subjects (19.51%) there was loss of the first permanent molar tooth, 26 had lost one tooth, and 22 had lost two teeth. Occluding changes were more marked when the lower molar teeth were lacking. With regard to the second aspect the authors present several cases of anomalies of the dentomaxillary apparatus with distal occlusion, solved in the Begg technique.

[Philosophy of prevention in stomatology]. / Consideratii asupra filosofiei preventiei în stomatologie.

The authors make an analysis of the concept of prevention as applied to the field of stomatology, and also discuss the prophylactic strategies, and the means for action. A series of aspects are discussed, including: the why of preventive practice? What is preventive practice? The philosophy of prevention; which are the facilities and the necessary equipment?