[EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND PATHOGENETIC PECULIARITIES OF DENTAL CARIES IN ADOLESCENTS]

The goal of this study was to determine the spread and intensity of dental caries in the adolescents and study the characteristics of damage to create the unified method of prognosis and development risk level of the aforementioned pathology. Impact of risk factors on the mineralization of hard tissue of tooth was studied in the 381 adolescents aged 11-16. The study found that dental caries spread among the research group was high, with the 77.9% (p>0,005), and the intensity was between average (DMFT=2,3). An analysis of the differences between values of the average caries intensity and the SIC index (Significant Caries index) in relative terms showed that minimal differences were observed in adolescents 12-13 years old (1.4 times), and maximum differences in 15-16 years old (2.5 times). Among local risk factors that induce demineralizing processes of hard tooth tissues in all age groups, poor oral hygiene (86.5%) and dental anomalies (56%) are the most significant, whereas among general risk factors, the hormonal state of juvenile age (27.2%) is of primary importance. Thus, the assessment of the role and significance of common and local risk factors of the development of dental caries, considering age, will allow organizing their early prevention mechanisms and selection of the most appropriate and optimal treatment method.