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Background Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) can occur at any age. They may cause health, functional, esthetic, and psychological problems, negatively affecting quality of life. Objectives The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence, causes, treatment, and risk factors of TDIs among Polish adolescents. Material and methods As part of a cross-sectional national monitoring survey concerning the oral health condition and its determinants in the Polish population, 992 15-year-olds of both sexes were examined. The subjects were the residents of the urban and rural areas of 10 from a total of 16 provinces of the country. Caries-affected teeth were assessed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, and caries prevalence and the decayed, missing or filled teeth (DMFT) index values were calculated. Traumatic dental injuries were assessed with the use of the WHO criteria, modified for retrospective evaluation. The details of clinically diagnosed TDI were supplemented by a questionnaire and an interview. Results Overall, TDIs occurred in 22.0% of the subjects, similarly often in urban and rural areas (23.0% and 20.9%, respectively; p = 0.439), and more frequently in males than in females (26.2% and 18.2%, respectively; p = 0.002). The most common damage was crown fracture (46.2%), followed by luxation (43.9%) and avulsion (9.9%). Among the traumatized teeth, 73.8% received crown fracture restorations, 29.6% root canal treatment, and 17.5% were splinted due to luxation or avulsion. The most common cause of TDIs were accidental falls - 96.3%, including playing sports (27.1%), the other referred to violence/fight (3.7%). Nearly 14% of the accidents took place at school. The likelihood of TDI experience in males was 1.59-fold higher than in females. Males revealed a 2.76-fold higher probability of TDI incidence during participation in sports activities. Other predictors of TDIs were a low level of education of the mother, a poor socioeconomic status and a high DMFT score. Conclusions A relatively high prevalence of TDIs in Polish 15-year-olds calls for effective planning and intervention to prevent the occurrence of the injuries and their aftereffects.

Background Masticatory system and speech sound disorders concur, have the same causes and similar consequences - both increase the risk of dental and periodontal diseases. Objectives The study was conducted to establish the correlation between functional disorders of the masticatory system and speech sound disorders. Material and methods Three hundred patients aged 7-10 years were examined to detect functional disorders of the masticatory system and speech sound disorders. Functional disorders were assessed in patients with and without speech sound disorders. Results According to the study results, functional disorders of the masticatory system concur more often with speech sound disorders than with correct articulation and lead to speech sound disorders. There is a strong correlation between: - any dysfunction and errors in the /p/, /b/, /m/, /s/, /z/, /t s/, /d z/, /ɕ/, /ʑ/, /t ɕ/, and /d ʑ/ sounds, - mouth breathing and errors in the /p/, /b/, /m/, /s/, /z/, /t s/, /d z/, /ɕ/, /ʑ/, /t ɕ/, and /d ʑ/ sounds, - persistent tongue thrust and errors in the /s/, /z/, /t s/, /d z/, /ʂ/, /ʐ/, /t ʂ/, /d ʐ/, /ɕ/, /ʑ/, /t ɕ/, and /d ʑ/ sounds, and - parafunctional sucking and errors in the /s/, /z/, /t s/, /d z/, /ʂ/, /ʐ/, /t ʂ/, /d ʐ/, /ɕ/, /ʑ/, /t ɕ/, and /d ʑ/ sounds. Conclusions To implement effective and early prevention and treatment, it is crucial to know the correlation between the masticatory system and speech sound disorders, as it reduces treatment duration and minimizes relapses of not only communication disorders, but also of concurrent masticatory system disorders.

BACKGROUND There is some increase in the risk of oral diseases in adolescence, as in this period of life, individuals become more independent regarding the consumption of sugary food and beverages, and they can be reluctant to apply oral hygiene procedures systematically. Therefore, adolescence is a period of life that needs special attention. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to compare some oral health parameters and oral health-related behaviors of 15-year-olds within the past 7 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS In 2008 and 2015, nationwide surveys on oral health condition involving 15-year-olds were carried out in Poland. Sampling and clinical examinations were performed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, which were extended with a questionnaire concerning pro-health behaviors. RESULTS Caries prevalence and severity turned out to be a constant, as neither a significant reduction in the proportion of caries-affected adolescents (94.0% vs 94.0%) nor in the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) (5.96 vs 5.65), DT, FT, and significant caries (SiC) index values was found, except for a decline in MT (0.17 vs 0.07; p < 0.05). The periodontal condition revealed deterioration, since some increase in the percentage of adolescents with gingival bleeding (34.2% vs 37.4%), shallow pockets (0 vs 2.8%) and loss of attachment (0 vs 1.3%), and a decrease in the mean number of sound sextants (4.85 vs 4.21; p < 0.01) were noticed. Moreover, fewer adolescents declared brushing their teeth at least twice a day (77.8% vs 66.7%; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The high and constant prevalence of caries and deterioration of the periodontal condition indicate a significant burden on the oral health of adolescents. To improve this situation, the implementation of proper age-oriented oral health programs is needed.