E. Honkala et al., CARIES EXPERIENCE AND TREATMENT NEED AMONG ADULTS RESPONDING TO AN INVITATION FOR DENTAL EXAMINATION AND TREATMENT IN 2 KARELIAN COMMUNITIES IN RUSSIA, Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, 54(3), 1996, pp. 171-175
This study was planned and conducted by the Health Authorities of Kare
lia in the Russian Federation and the Faculty of Dentistry, University
of Kuopio, Finland. The aim of the study was to analyze caries experi
ence and treatment need among adults who responded to an invitation fo
r dental examination and offered free dental treatment in two communit
ies in Karelia. A total of 227 adults aged 30-72 years from 2 rural co
mmunities were examined clinically in accordance with WHO criteria by
a team of Finnish dental specialists. The participants represented two
major ethnic groups (Fenno-Ugrians, 68%; Slavs, 32%). The mean DMFT a
nd DMFS were 15.8 and 58.8, respectively. Among dentate subjects (n =
225) 88% had at least one carious tooth and 80% had one or more filled
or crowned teeth. Altogether, 34% of the subjects needed extraction(s
), and 83% needed restorative treatment. The main finding of the study
was that with regard to caries experience, oral health was quite good
compared with that found in Finland and the UK.