Oral health status of an industrial population in Romania

The purpose of this survey was to assess the oral health situation of an industrial population in Romania. A total of 311 male and female employees (18-62 years-of-age) were clinically examined according to the WHO Basic Methods criteria and responded to an oral health questionnaire on dental knowledge and health care habits. In the younger age groups, the amount of untreated dental caries was high (18-24 years: DT = 5.7, DMFT = 8.9) whereas missing teeth were prominent in older employees (45 years or more: MT = 7.6, DMFT = 11.9). At age 25-44, 72 per cent had gingival bleeding and calculus. Dental knowledge was relatively poor, and 28 per cent of the participants indicated actual need for treatment. Dental visits within the previous 12 months were reported by 24 per cent of the employees, and 39 per cent had had a tooth extracted at their most recent visit. The study emphasises the need for reorientation of oral health care in Romania, and the relevance of industrial dental services for the implementation of oral health promotion and prevention is highlighted.