Dental Status of Active Age Population in the Republic of Bulgaria

Abstract

Dental health is an important public health component. There is a number of dependencies between the demographic and social characteristics of the population and its dental status. The purpose of the study is to examine the dental status of the active age population in the Republic of Bulgaria and to define its dependence on social and demographic factors. Epidemiologic study and inquiry survey were conducted among 416 Bulgarian citizens aged 18–65 years in six district towns for achieving the aim. The results were processed and subjected to statistical analysis with significance factor 95% (p = 0.05). Prevalence per persons (E_P) for the studied sample is 98.56%, teeth prevalence (E_T) has an average value of 52.7%, while the dental caries intensity (DMFT) is 16.25. Caries incidence and intensity increases with age as a result of a proportional increase in the number of obturated and extracted teeth with patients’ ageing. The average number of treated teeth is bigger in individuals with higher education and at the same time, this group has lower average number of extracted teeth. Lower average number of extracted teeth is also reported in persons with high income compared to those on minimal wages and parallel the average number of obturated teeth increases proportionally to the income increase. There is distinct dental status dependence in the active age Bulgarian population on demographic and social factors. Persons, paying regular visits to the dental office, have lower number of caries and extracted teeth, which supports the importance of dental prophylaxis.