Oral Health of Roma Children in Dendropotamos, Greece: A Cross-sectional Study

The aim of this study is to document caries status and assess the oral hygiene and periodontal health of Roma children in Thessaloniki-Greece, as well as explore correlations with dental behavior and perceptions.

All Roma children attending primary schools in a designated Roma community area of Thessaloniki were examined (n = 135). Oral hygiene was evaluated using simplified debris index (DI-S) and simplified calculus index (CI-S), periodontal health was evaluated using the community periodontal index (CPI), and dental caries status was assessed based on ICDAS II criteria. Questionnaires assessed dental behavior and perceptions.

Approximately 3.7% of individuals were caries-free, whereas 83.0% required restorative treatment. Calculus was found in 54.1% of subjects, and 33% presented with bleeding. A significant 51.9% have never visited a dentist and 40.7% seek dental care only in emergencies. Despite over half (51.1%) expressing dissatisfaction with their dental hygiene, 41.5% reported they rarely brush, 3% used dental floss, and 4.4% used fluoride mouthwash. Furthermore, 10.3% of the subjects reported smoking and 8.9% admitted to alcohol consumption.

The findings indicate the need to enhance Roma children's oral health awareness and access to dental care.

Evaluating the oral health of Roma children identifies unmet needs in a vulnerable group. It enables targeted prevention and treatment strategies. This promotes better overall health and supports equitable healthcare planning and policy development. How to cite this article: Zarkadi AE, Balli D, Athanasiadou P, et al. Oral Health of Roma Children in Dendropotamos, Greece: A Cross-sectional Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2025;26(4):348-355.