FACTORII SOCIO-ECONOMICI ASOCIAȚI RISCULUI ȘI INCIDENȚEI CARIEI DENTARE

Summary. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the current caries experience of schoolchildren in the Republic of Moldova. The research included quantitative analysis through the application of questionnaires and qualitative analysis through the clinical examination of children to calculate the incidence and severity of dental caries. The 455 parents from the rural areas of the Republic of Moldova with children aged 3-16 years were interviewed regarding socioeconomic factors and the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards oral hygiene. The statistical analysis of the quantitative material was interpreted in Microsoft Excel and with the statistical software IBM SPSS. The population of developing countries are affected by the most common dental diseases: dental caries and periodontal disease, but the values reach worrying numbers. Resources for oral health care, preventive strategies and community-oriented programs, with special emphasis on rural children, need to be identified.Key words: dental caries, oral hygiene, risk factors, schoolchildren, toothbrushing.