Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Oral Health Promotion Model Implemented in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia

Danko Bakarcic
ORCID logo ,
Nevenka Vlah
,
Natasa Ivancic Jokic
* ,
Suzana Jankovic
,
Natasa Dragas Zubalj
,
Sandro Kresina
,
Silvia Mohoric
,
Renata Grzic
,
Helena Glibotic Kresina
Version 1 : Received: 3 October 2023 / Approved: 4 October 2023 / Online: 5 October 2023 (06:43:58 CEST)

How to cite: Bakarcic, D.; Vlah, N.; Ivancic Jokic, N.; Jankovic, S.; Dragas Zubalj, N.; Kresina, S.; Mohoric, S.; Grzic, R.; Glibotic Kresina, H. Oral Health Promotion Model Implemented in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia. Preprints 2023, 2023100236. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.0236.v1 Bakarcic, D.; Vlah, N.; Ivancic Jokic, N.; Jankovic, S.; Dragas Zubalj, N.; Kresina, S.; Mohoric, S.; Grzic, R.; Glibotic Kresina, H. Oral Health Promotion Model Implemented in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia. Preprints 2023, 2023100236. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202310.0236.v1

Abstract

Background and objective: Research shows that 60–90% of school children have caries, representing a serious public health issue. Here, we present a model of oral health promotion that has been conducted in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (PGC), Croatia, from 2008 to 2019. We assessed the oral status of first and fifth grade elementary students and determined the sustainability and influence of our model on the status and behavior regarding the children’s oral status. Additionally, during the observed period, promotional and preventative activities aiming to improve oral health were conducted. Since 2014, the Program has begun to be continuously, comprehensively, and systematically introduced into preschools as well. Material and methods: We assessed the number of children with caries by analyzing the changes in the decayed, missing, and filled teeth for primary teeth (dmft)/decayed, missing, and filled teeth for permanent teeth (DMFT) index mean during the observed period. Results: From 2008 to 2019 we assessed 44422 children in the PGC (21714 first grade and 22708 fifth grade students). The average response rate throughout the Program has been 83%. We have noted a dmft/DMFT index decrease from 4,66 to 3,73 (first graders) and from 2,50 to 1,00 (fifth graders). Conclusions: The Program has improved the behavior and oral health of children; stakeholders from various professions have been included, such as health visitors, school medicine teams, and pediatricians, avoiding additional financial expenses, increasing the number of children in care, and proving the sustainability of our oral health improvement model.

Keywords

children; dental medicine; health promotion; oral health; preventive medicine

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Dentistry and Oral Surgery

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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