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Prevalence of gingivitis in 6- to 11-year-old Croatian children
A Bossnjak1, Z Curilovic, V Vuccicevic-Boras
1Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Zagreb, Croatia. bosnjak@sfzg.hr
Insights
Gingivitis affects a significant number of children aged 6-11 in Zagreb, Croatia. Early intervention and oral hygiene education are crucial for prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Periodontology
- Public Health
Background:
- Gingivitis is a common inflammatory condition affecting the gums.
- Early detection and intervention in children are vital for long-term oral health.
- Urban environments may present unique factors influencing oral hygiene practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of gingivitis in children aged 6 to 11 years.
- To assess gingival health in two urban settlements in Zagreb, Croatia.
Main Methods:
- A total of 1025 children participated in the study.
- The Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI) was utilized to evaluate gingival health.
- Gingival condition was assessed on 12 specific tooth surfaces per child.
Main Results:
- 43% of children exhibited healthy gingival tissue.
- Bleeding was observed from one surface in 12% of children, two surfaces in 6%, three surfaces in 5%, four surfaces in 17%, and five to eight surfaces in 17%.
- The findings indicate a prevalent, yet generally slight to moderate, level of gingivitis.
Conclusions:
- Gingivitis is a common condition among the studied pediatric population.
- Effective oral hygiene instruction and consistent monitoring in schools are essential to prevent and manage gingivitis.
- Public health initiatives focusing on pediatric oral hygiene are recommended.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of gingivitis in 6- to 11-year-old children in two urban settlements of Zagreb, Croatia.
Participants:
Total number of 1025 children was included in the study. The Gingival Bleeding Index was used to determine the condition of the gingiva on mesiobuccal and buccal surfaces of six selected teeth, totaling to 12 surfaces.
Results:
Forty-three percent of the examined children had healthy gingival tissue, 12% showed bleeding from one surface, 6% from two, 5% from three, 17% from four, and 17% from five to eight surfaces.
Conclusions:
Gingivitis was prevalent, but slight to moderate. It is important to instruct and control schoolchildren in excellent oral hygiene in order to prevent gingivitis.