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Dental caries is listed by the WHO as one of the major non-communicable diseases that need to be prevented and treated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of caries expressed as the Decayed, Missing and Filled Permanent Teeth (DMFT) index in 12-year-old Polish children and to verify bacterial species related to the occurrence of dental caries. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of DNA isolated from saliva samples was performed to detect 8 cariogenic and periopathogenic bacterial strains. A total of 118 Polish children were enrolled in the study. They had low mean DMFT scores of 1.58 ± 1.98. The prevalence of dental caries in the children tested was low (53.4%), with a tendency to decrease compared to previous oral surveys. Bacterial abundance of other species in the dental caries and caries-free groups did not differ; however, periopathogenic Prevotella pallens , Fusobacterium nucleatum along with cariogenic Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus fermentum were significantly strongly correlated in the caries-active subjects. The prevalence of S. sobrinus was significantly higher in children with dental caries ( p = 0.023) and correlated with higher DMFT. It may temporarily play an important role in the initiation of the cariogenic process or in its enhancement due to an ecological imbalance in dental microbiota.

Introduction: Oxygen is an essential element for sustaining the life of aerobes; however, in certain conditions it may be toxic for these organisms. This is due to so-called reactive oxygen species - ROS. Factors which cause the production of free radicals include ionizing radiation, UV radiation, high temperature, and hazardous substances, such as phenols, carbon monoxide, e.g. in smokers, also air pollution and drugs., Objective: The objective of the study was analysis of the total antioxidant status (TAS) in stimulated and unstimulated saliva, according to the number of active carious lesions in generally healthy non-smokers aged 15-17., Materials and Method: The study covered 113 adolescents aged 15-17 in whom the state of dentition was evaluated using the DMFT (Decayed-Missing-Filled) index, and oral hygiene assessed based on the OHI-S (Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified) index. TAS in saliva was determined by means of a Randox Labolatories Ltd. test kit, by the spectrophotometric method., Results: Based on the results of the study, it was found that in the population examined an increase in the number of carious lesions was accompanied by a significant decrease in the TAS, both in stimulated and unstimulated saliva. CONCLUSIONS. A health-promoting life style, maintenance of basic principles of oral hygiene and care of general health through the elimination of harmful habits decrease the risk of dental caries.

Purpose: The purpose of the studies performed was an attempt to establish a potential relationship between total antioxidant status of unstimulated whole saliva, patients' ages, oral hygiene status and dental caries., Material and Methods: The study involved 120 non-smokers. Mean age of the study subjects was 18.40 ± 1.74 years. Clinical examination was performed to evaluate the state of hard and soft oral tissues, and oral hygiene status. Additionally, biochemical tests and statistical studies were carried out. Laboratory examinations involved measuring the total antioxidant status level in supernatant using the Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) test from Randox. In statistical analysis, Spearman Rang correlation coefficient, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann - Whitney test, logistic regression and ROC curve were used. The analysis was conducted using Statistica 9 software., Results: Mean D, M, F and DMFT values were 4.04 ± 3.96; 0.09 ± 0.34; 5.00 ± 3.90; 9.05 ± 5.30, respectively. Mean OHI - S was 0.95 ± 0.76. Mean TAS value in the studied population was 0.82 ± 0.26 mmol/l. In the group of subjects without active dental caries, the level of the total antioxidant potential was higher, with a value of 0.89 ± 0.16 mmol/l, and in the study group subjects who had tooth decay it was 0.80 ± 0.28 mmol/l. It was found that TAS was higher in younger subjects., Conclusions: The conducted studies seem to allow for the following conclusions:TAS level in the supernatant of unstimulated whole saliva decreases with age; TAS level in the supernatant of unstimulated whole saliva is the highest in patients without caries, and the oral hygiene status does not have significant influence on TAS.

The study covered 96 handicapped children, 3-17 years old. Complex dental treatment was performed in all children: under general anaesthesia in 45.83% and ambulant treatment in 54.17%. The study found high frequency of dental caries both in deciduous and permanent teeth. Mean numbers of tooth decay, extractions and fillings (d, m, f and D, M, F for deciduous and permanent teeth, respectively) were high. The dental treatment index was low, unsatisfactory especially in deciduous teeth. Dental care provided for handicapped children needs to be intensified, with special attention paid to preventive measures. It is important to make the parents of handicapped children with systemic disease aware of early prevention and treatment.

The role of oral hygiene in prevention of caries and periodontal diseases has been presented based on the literature and own clinical experience.

The stomatological examination was carried out in 443 children aged 6-9 years including 203 boys and 240 girls. It was ascertained that the prevalence of caries of permanent teeth in children aged 6 was 3.64%, aged 7-50.88%, aged 8-73.53% and aged 9-76.81%. The DMF index in children aged 6 was 0.05, aged 7-1.375, aged 8-1.852 and in those aged 9 it was 2.308. There was noticed some more advancement in caries process in girls than in boys.