Adina Armencia, Livia Bobu, Dana Bosînceanu, Maria Bolat, Anca Stupu, Andrei Nicolau, Loredana Hurjui, Magda Bârlean, Sorana Roșu, Carina Balcoș, Iulia Cătălina Săveanu
Abstract
Oral health in adolescents and adults has improved in recent decades, even if there were socio-economic inequalities between groups. Aim: to determine the association between caries experience and social and behavioral factors in young adults and adults in Iasi, Romania. Material and method: The cross-sectional study was carried out during 10 months in 2018 on a batch of students from the Iasi university center and adults who accessed the dental services within the Adult Stomatology Ambulatory, “Sf. Spiridon” Iasi. The necessary data were obtained through a questionnaire. The data on caries experience were collected through the clinical examination. Statistical analysis of the collected data was performed using the computer program SPSS 20.0.for Windows. Results: The prevalence of dental caries in young adults was 96.3%. There were statistically significant differences between the prevalence of dental caries by sex (p <0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences for the DT component of the DMFT index (p <0.05).The prevalence of dental caries in the adult group prevalent in dental caries was 97.5%. Statistically significant differences were registered between the sexes (p <0.05). In contrast, there were no statistically significant differences between the components of the DMFT indicator and sex (p> 0.05). The visit to the dentist and the reasons for these visits, the frequency of dental brushing, the consumption of sweets between meals and smoking are strongly associated with the socio-economic level in young adults. Conclusions: Increased prevalence of dental caries as well as increased values of DMFT are associated with socio-economic factors. Low level of education was a strong distal social determinant of caries experience, which affected dental health status via a pathway mediated by behavioural factors.