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Analysis of the Risk Factors of Dental Caries
Keywords
dental caries, risk factors, patient behavior, quantitative analysis
Abstract
According to World Health Organization data and statistics, dental caries is the leading oral disease by the frequency of occurrence. Tooth decay affects the people worldwide, becoming a major burden for the oral health. A large number of studies in the field have identified a series of risk factors that are responsible for causing dental caries. Therefore, in order to prevent this condition, we should put an emphasis on oral hygiene, healthy diet and food habits, frequency of visiting an oral health professional and relevant sources of information on oral health. For the study upon the risk factors concerning dental health, I applied a survey questionnaire on a sample of 514 adult people (over 18 years old). If we analyze the results, we can observe that 76.07 percent of the survey respondents change their toothbrush every three months, but 17.51 percent do not use additional hygiene practices. Regarding the dental visits, 44.16 percent of the survey respondents visit their dental practitioner only when they are in pain and less for a regular dental exam. Concerning the fruit and vegetables consumption, 31% of the survey respondents state that they have a poor consumption. To sum up, based on all the questionnaire data, there is a low interest of the population in their oral health, due to the lack of information on the risk factors. Despite the many oral health promotion campaigns, the results are not yet notable. It is significant that these campaigns should continue without interruption, differentiated by age groups, involving dentists, dental nurses, school teachers and the authorities.