ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DENTAL TREATMENT NEEDS AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS IN SCHOOLCHILDREN IN IASI, ROMANIA

• Main Authors: Livia Bobu, Catalina Iulia Saveanu, Carina Balcos, Magda Barlean, Irina Bamboi, Alice Murariu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Romanian Society of Oral Rehabilitation 2020-07-01
• Series: Romanian Journal of Oral Rehabilitation
• Subjects: dental treatment needs; schoolchildren; socioeconomic status
• Online Access: http://www.rjor.ro/association-between-dental-treatment-needs-and-socioeconomic-status-in-schoolchildren-in-iasi-romania/

The aim of the present study was to determine the dental treatment needs of schoolchildren aged 12 years in Iasi, Romania, and to determine whether there is a socioeconomic disparity in their distribution. Material and methods: the study cross-sectional included 402 schoolchildren aged 12 years. The children were clinically examined and the dental surfaces were scored using Full ICDAS criteria. Parents’ occupation, income and number of members in the family were considered to determine socioeconomic status (SES) of the family. Results: the most frequent treatment need was single-surface filling (2,06±2.18 teeth/subject), followed by multi-surface filling (0.93±0.75 teeth/subject) and endodontic therapy (0.31±0.16 teeth/subject). The treatment needs were much higher in the low SES group than in the high SES group (p < 0.01) and strong inverse correlations were found between SES and dental treatment needs. Conclusion: extensive preventive programs are needed to reduce the level of unmet dental treatment needs of schoolchildren in Iasi.