ORAL HEALTH IN LATVIAN 15-YEAR-OLDS

Oral hygiene, caries and periodontal conditions were assessed in a rep resentative sample of 15-year-old Latvian schoolchildren, comprising 5 06 subjects. Caries, diagnosed on the cavity level, was detected in 97 .6% of the population. The mean DMFT and DMFS were 8.1 and 14.1, respe ctively. Although 91% of the children had had restorative treatment, t he D component accounted on average for 33% of the DMFS score. Visible dental plaque was found in 98.4% of the children; in a majority (88%) abundant plaque deposits were recorded. Community Periodontal Index o f Treatment Needs (CPITN) was assessed by standard WHO methods. Deviat ion from periodontal health was observed in 90.7% of the children. Cal culus was recorded in 26.1% and gingival pockets in 25.9% of the sampl e. Additionally, 38.7% of the children had gingival bleeding. The mean number of sextants with healthy periodontal conditions was 2.5. Calcu lus and pocketing averaged 0.6 and 0.4 sextants, respectively. Attachm ent loss, recorded in 11.7% of the subjects, did not exceed 3 mm. The results showed high caries prevalence, considerable need for treatment and virtual absence of oral hygiene.