The role of primary health care in early detection of stomatologic diseases in socially vulnerable groups of adult population: the organizational medical social study

The stomatological diseases continue to be significant public health problem in socially vulnerable groups of population. The primary health care can play key role in early detection of complaints and routing of patients.The purpose of the study is to evaluate role of primary health care in early detection of dental diseases in socially vulnerable groups of adult population and to identify organizational factors limiting timely routing of patients to stomatologist. The cross-sectional observational organizational medical and social study was carried out in the Republic of Dagestan in 2024–2025. The sampling included 420 patients from socially vulnerable groups. The study applied anonymous questionnaire survey, medical documentation analysis and evaluation of fact of identification of complaints, recommendations and referral to stomatologist. statistical processing included descriptive statistics, χ² criterion, Fisher exact criterion, Mann–Whitney U-criterion and logistic regression. The oral complaints were reported by 65.7% of patients, need for stomatologist consultation was identified in 63.8%. The referral was executed in 15.2% of all patients and in 19.6% of patients with complaints. The main limitations were insufficient fixation of complaints, poor follow-up control and financial, transport, and informational barriers. The primary health care has considerable potential for early detection of stomatological diseases but requires formalization of screening, routing and follow-up control.