Trends in the incidence of dental caries in 18-year-olds in Lodzkie voivodeship in 1995-2014.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper was to assess the dentition status of 18-year-olds living in Lodzkie voivodeship based on the epidemiological studies conducted in 1995-2014. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study was carried out in 2014. Study group was composed of 302 adolescents aged 18 years old living in Lodzki and Brzezinski districts, including urban and rural areas selected using three stage cluster sampling method. Examinations were conducted pursuant to the WHO recommendations. The prevalence of caries, intensity of caries as well as the components (D,M,F) of caries intensity, treatment index and the SIC index were calculated. Furthermore, the changes in the intensity of caries were assessed, beginning from 1995. Statistical analysis was carried out. RESULTS: Dental caries was reported in 91.7% of adolescents. The intensity of caries, the SIC index and treatment index were estimated to be 5.5, 8.9 and 0.8, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Having analysed the data as of 1995-2014, it may be stated that there is a systematic improvement of the dentition status in 18-year-olds living in Lodzkie voivodeship.