Significant Caries Index (SiC) in 12-year-old children in Bitola

Necakovska T., Necakovski A., Gorgievska S., Kurcievski S.
PHO Medical Center “D-r Trifun Panovski” – Bitola, Macedonia
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry
Dr. Necakovski Dental Practice - Bitola, Macedonia

 

Summary: The high prevalence of dental caries is an important health and social problem. Although some improvements in the dental health can be noticed, caries is still one of the biggest problems in dentistry. The planning and applying preventive measures (primary, secondary or tertiary) closely depends on the precise knowledge of the dental health condition, especially in some age-groups.

The aim of our study was to determine and show the values of the SiC in 12-year-old school children (target group) from three primary schools in Bitola. The schools were chosen by the principle of representative sample – from different social, economic and cultural communities, in order to attain a realistic view of the condition of the oral health of the target group in the whole of Bitola.

The method of obtaining oral heath data was by a standard clinical procedure – examination with a blunt probe and a dental mirror in a dental office and writing down the information in an individual dental chart. A total of 300 children were examined in the survey, out of which 157 were male and 143 female. The gathered data on decayed, missing, filled and healthy teeth were used in a statistical survey and the results were graphically shown.

The obtained data showed average value of the DMFT – 5,09. One third of the surveyed group with the highest DMFT was selected into a subgroup of 98 persons. The mean DMFT of this subgroup was calculated and gave the value of 8,67, which is in fact the SiC index of the whole group.

Focusing attention to the children with highest scores of DMFT with the SiC Index, has advantages both for the society and the concerned individuals. Furthermore, specific targeted preventive actions can be implemented to the subgroup which in return would lower the DMFT value.

(This survey was presented at the 9th Annual Congress of the Balkan Stomatological Society which took place May 13-16, 2004 in Ohrid, Macedonia)