Oral health of the Croatian army recruits in 2001

• Main Authors: Nikša Dulčić, Vjekoslav Jerolimov, Jadranka Keros, Tomislav Badel, Snježana Restek Despotušić
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton 2009-08-01
• Series: Medicinski Glasnik
• Subjects: dental caries; recruits; DMFT; epidemiology
• Online Access: http://www.ljkzedo.com.ba/medglasnik/vol62/M10_14.pdf

Aim Oral health of Croatian Army recruits has been researched. In2001, 505 19-year-old recruits in the barracks in Koprivnica wereclinically examined and asked about their health care habits.Methods The oral status of all teeth (except wisdom teeth) wasdescribed by the DMFT index (decayed, missing, and filled teeth)and compared with the FST index (filled and sound teeth). Thelevel of the recruits’ restored teeth was calculated by the formulaFTx100/DFT.Results The research showed the average DMFT index value of7.32. The average value of the FST index was 23.56, and 47.8%of the teeth were restored. A statistically significant difference accordingto domicile was determined in the DT, MT, FT and FSTindex. The subjects from rural environments had more teeth affectedby caries, and those from urban environments had more restoredteeth (66.59%). The health condition of the subjects fromurban environments is better (higher values of the FT index andslower cumulative distribution and statistical significance of theFST index).Conclusion The FST index is more adequate than the DMFT indexfor application in populations with a higher level of teeth affectedby caries. The research conducted contributes to the determinationof dental health of the Croatian Army recruits as well as to theorganisation of optimal preventive programs.