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AIM: The aim of this study is to determine the correlation between the DMFT index of 15-year-old children from the east region and the concentration of fluoride in drinking water from the populated areas where children live. METHODS: In the examination, 414 children were enrolled, out of seven central secondary schools from four bigger cities from east region, at which the DMFT index was determined. The children live in six different cities and 51 different villages. Fifty-seven water samples were taken from the examined area to determine the fluoride concentration using the electrochemical method using the pH/ISE meter-Thermo-Orion with a special F-electrode (Thermo Orion Ion Plus Fluoride Electrode) at the Institute for public health. Spearman’s method was used to determine the correlation between the specified variables. RESULTS: The total number of children in the examined sample was 414, out of which 226 (54.6%) were male and 188 (45.4%) were female. The prevalence of caries free children was 9.4%. SiC index was 10.22. The average DMFT index in this group of children was 5.77 with a standard deviation of ± 4.02. Maximum concentration of fluorine in drinking water of 0.99 ppmF was determined in the village Raslovci, and 0.87 ppmF in the village Star Karaorman, while the minimum (0.07 ppmF) in the village Dvorishte and (0.10 ppmF) in the village Grad. Correlation of the DMFT index in 15-year-old children from the east region and the concentration of fluorine in the drinking water has a negative, indirect correlation, with the value of the coefficient R = −0.27. CONCLUSION: The correlation between the DMFT index and the concentration of drinking water is a negative, indirect correlation, and statistically, this correlation is highly significant (p < 0.05).

The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in dental status during fixed orthodontic treatment. A total of 60 patients with diagnosed malocclusion were included. Subjects were divided in 3 groups (20 subjects in each group). The first group was treated with dental cream GC Tooth Mousse, and the second group with Fluorogal - solution with a low concentration of fluoride (0.05% F). Control group comprised 20 patients. All subjects received precise instructions for oral hygiene and exclusion of dietary intake before fixed orthodontic appliance was placed and during each control. In our study clinical oral health status (DMFT-index) was registered before and at the end of the orthodontic treatment. The subjects treated with dental cream GC Tooth Mousse at the end of the orthodontic treatment had increased DMFT-index 5.85 in comparison to the beginning of the treatment, where the average value of the index was 5.25 (however, the difference was not statistically significant). A statistically significant difference between medium values of the DMFT-index before and after the orthodontic treatment was detected in the control group. The results of this study show that DMFT-index increased in a group of dental patients undergoing orthodontic therapy with fixed appliances. The patients must follow good instructions, motivation, and control of oral hygiene during the treatment. Key words: carious lesions, fixed orthodontic appliance

In the early childhood, at the age of 1 to 1.5 year, immediately after teeth eruption, a special form of caries which spreads only over the primary teeth, often appears. The aim of this study was to determine local factors that affect the occurrence of this dental disease in early childhood.Materials and methods: Our examinees were children 1.5-3.5 years old, where during the standard check-ups we diagnosed starting phases of circular caries: initial lesion (white spot) and superficial form. The mothers of children with diagnosed circular caries were provided with a pre-prepared questionnaire containing data on: the length of the breastfeeding period, the infant's feeding with a bottle and the most commonly consumed contents, oral hygiene habits after feeding the infant, and tooth brushing. Results: Only 30% of mothers breastfed (children) by the 6-th month and 40% by the third month and shorter. About 15% of mothers received fluoride prophylaxis during pregnancy and lactation. The largest percentage of respondents (48%) were fed with a baby bottle, over a prolonged period of time, up to three or more years, mostly with industrial juices (48%). They were mostly consumed at night (40%). Oral-hygiene measures after bottle feeding were observedonly in 16%. The daily frequency of tooth brushing in young children is at most once a day (32%). Conclusion: The analysis of the results showed that circular caries is more common in children who have been breastfed for shorter period and who used the bottle in their daily diet. The most commonly consumed are industrial juices, which are considered "cariogenic drinks" because they are potentially dangerous to primary teeth, especially when consumed at night (pH of saliva drops to 0).

Early childhood caries (circular caries) can occur at an early age, with the eruption of deciduous teeth of the age of 1 to 1.5 years old. This is a multifactorial dental disease that has become a worldwide problem with high prevalence in recent decades. The purpose of the study was clinical evaluation of the remineralizing effect of the topical treatment, in patients with starting stages of circular caries. This study was conducted at the Clinic for Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Skopje, and included 117 patients of both sexes, with the starting stages of circular caries. They were aged of 1.5 to 3.5 years old, with a fully formed primary tooth. It was selected 61 patients with initial lesion – white spot and 56 patients with superficial form. From both groups 30 patients were treated with topical fluoride preparation, for a period of six months, applied once a week. The remaining patients had regular check-ups and instructions, but they did not undergo fluoride treatment. After the fluoride treatment, we followed the remineralizing effect, i.e. which initial lesions were reversed or where the intracrystal spaces were filled and the crystals were repaired after six months of topical application. In some patients who were able to satisfy other preventative factors, we were able to obtain a clinical picture of complete remineralization on initial lesion (restitution ad integrum) in vivo, approximately similar to a healthy tooth. How successful the remineralization will be depends on the predominant, protective, or pathogenic factors. Keywords: circular caries, early childhood caries, remineralization, initial lesion, white spot

BACKGROUND: Circular caries occurs in the earliest age of the children (1 - 1.5 year), immediately after the eruption of the deciduous teeth. During this period, children are too young to be able to properly implement oral hygiene. Consequently, it is at a negligible level, with plenty of soft plaque on the deciduous tooth surfaces.OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this clinical trial was to determine the correlation between oral hygiene shown with Oral Hygiene index, and the initial stages of circular caries (initial lesion and superficial form), before and after topical fluoride treatment.MATERIAL AND METHODS: For determination of the OHI - index we used the method of Green - Vermillion. It was determined two times in 117 patients, during the first visit and immediately before physiological replacement of deciduous teeth. Patients were two to three years old and diagnosed with initial stages of circular caries. Amino fluoride solution was applied once a week, during six months.RESULTS: We obtained statistically significant improvement of OHI - index at the end of the test, among treated subjects from both major groups.CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the level of oral hygiene is correlated with the progression of changes in enamel. Topical fluoride treatment has a positive impact on reducing ECC.

Baby bottle caries occurs in the earliest age of the children (1-1.5 year), immediately after the eruption of the deciduous teeth. The latest scientific literature uses the term Early Childhood Caries (Tooth decay in early childhood). The aim of this study was to determine the level of the glucose values in the saliva samples taken in different time intervals: 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes after consuming two types of liquid food (sweetened milk and fruit juice). The study included test-group of 40 children, age 3-3.5 years, with Baby Bottle Caries that were still using baby bottles for feeding, and the control group of 40 children the same age, but without caries. The glucose concentrations of the saliva samples were determined with enzyme method GOD/PAP (Berhan and Trinder, 1972) at the Institute of Biochemistry at the Faculty of Medicine, University “Ss. Cyril and Methodius” in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. The analysis of the results showed statistically significant differences in determined values in saliva samples of the test-group and the control group (p

The aim of this study was to determine salivary pH, buffering capacity and calcium levels in caries-free and caries-active children. We examined 80 children of both genders, 15 years of age. Subjects were divided into four groups as follows: caries-free females, caries-active females, caries-free males, caries-active males; each group consisted of 20 subjects. The unstimulated saliva sample was collected by the spitting method and then pH, buffering capacity and calcium in saliva was measured. The results showed that mean level of buffering capacity of saliva was decreased significantly in the caries-active group as compared to caries-free group. The obtained data showed that the mean levels of pH and calcium were decreased in the caries-active group as compared to the caries-free group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The saliva with its constituents plays an important role in maintaining oral and especially dental health. Salivary pH values were found to be higher in the caries-free group. In our study, there was no significant correlation of pH values and caries activity with gender. Buffer capacity values were significantly lower in the caries-active group than in the caries-free group. There were significant differences when the groups were compared in the caries-active group where buffer capacity values were higher in boys than in girls. Calcium content of saliva was higher in the caries-free group. The results obtained in this study related to the values of the pH, buffering capacity and calcium in saliva, may serve as parameters for determining the caries risk patients, and accordingly to plan and carry appropriate caries preventive measures. Keywords: saliva, dental caries, pH, buffer capacity, calcium

In the recent 20 years, besides dramatic reduction of caries in many countries where complex programme of prevention is carried out, prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) has expressed continual growth trend. The aim of our research was to determine precisely ultra-structural changes in the enamel substance at the initial lesion of the ECC (white spot lesion), as initial change of great importance for its preventive aspect. Therefore, we directed our experiment to evaluate ultra-structural changes of the teeth enamel in primary teeth with circular caries in its opening stages of development: initial caries lesion and superficial form. To realize the aim of our research, in patients 6 years of age, whose teeth were already in the phase of resorption, we extracted 20 maxillary incisors (10 with initial lesion and 10 with superficial form) and 20 healthy mandibular incisors, as a control group. Investigation was done at the Institute for biomedical research of the Faculty of Medicine in Nis (Serbia), with the scanning electronic microscope. The data indicated that in the initial phase and superficial form of ECC only demineralization happened, while in the case of superficial form changes were much deeper. This speaks in favour of better understanding of ultra-structural changes of the enamel surface that happen in the initial phase of the ECC, which could help to create strategy for its successful prevention.