Agim Begzati - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Agim Begzati

It is a presentation of anomalies of mandibular progeny, and maxillary frontal alveolar ridge atr... more It is a presentation of anomalies of mandibular progeny, and maxillary frontal alveolar ridge atrophy in a thirty-six years old patient with profound esthetic and functional problems. Due to the absence of maxillary frontal teeth, the orthodontic therapy was applied only in the mandible, with frontal teeth retrusion and intrusion followed by pre-prosthetic preparation. A fixed prosthetic appliance was constructed for the maxillary frontal region with the reconstruction of the atrophied alveolar ridge using pink ceramic. The analysis of the teleradiographs showed an overjet reduction. At the end of the treatment an optimal occlusion is achieved (overbite 1 mm) and the esthetics has been significantly improved and stable even seven years after the treatment. Case report (J Int Dent Med Res 2016; 9: (3), pp. 249-253)

Revista e Stomatologëve të Kosovës, Dec 10, 2023

International Journal of Dentistry, 2018

Objectives. e oral health services of the prison population are considered more complex than thos... more Objectives. e oral health services of the prison population are considered more complex than those of the general population. e aim of this study was to examine the oral health status (the DMFT index and OHI index) and to evaluate the relation between the oral health and risk factors of inmates of this population, thus identifying the dental health status of inmates by gender, age, and the duration of their sentence. Materials and Methods. Our study has included a total number of 150 inmates, of both genders, from Lipjan prison house in Kosovo. Results. Oral health condition of inmates in Lipjan prison house is severe; the average value of DMFT is 8.44: for minors 6.22, while for adults 9.55. e assessment of DMFT index within the recruited inmates in our study shows that the mean rate of oral cure was 3.21, while the mean extraction value and caries were 3.55 and 3.58, respectively. e mean plaque test value was 1.44. Conclusion. Based on this research, we have concluded that the oral health condition of the inmates in Lipjan prison is not good, due to the presence of different risk factors among them.

Dental caries is one of the diseases with the highest preva- lence in children worldwide. Accordi... more Dental caries is one of the diseases with the highest preva- lence in children worldwide. According to the data collect- ed by the Clinic of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry on the prevalence of caries in preschool and school age chil- dren of Kosovo, it is evidenced for a high level of the pres- ence of caries. Every disease, which has a wide distribution, and which is influenced by social conditions, besides being a health problem for the patient, is also a public problem at the same time. Since treatment services are not able to act efficiently in dental diseases, then other options, mainly of a preventive nature, should be considered. Recently, more and more priority is given to oral health promotion initia- tives. Health promotion offers opportunities to influence the main determinants of oral health and thus improve oral health in all segments of society. This involves a range of strategies, one of which may be health education. The success of health promotion depends greatly on the devel- opment of the cooperation of a large number of subjects, from the involved population, dental professionals and lo- cal and state institutions. In the strategy for the promotion of oral health in Kosovo, based on our conditions, changing behaviors in improving oral hygiene and reducing intake of sweet food should be considered as a priority during oral health promotion activities.

SGEM International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conferences on Social Sciences and Arts, Aug 20, 2017

Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) constitutes a serious public health issue, especially in... more Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) constitutes a serious public health issue, especially in communities without water fluoridation. We assessed the effectiveness of biannual fluoride varnish applications to prevent ECC in children from nonfluoridated rural areas. Methods: A triple-blind randomized control trial with two parallel arms was conducted with 275 two-to three-year-old children without cavitated carious lesions from 28 rural public preschools in Chile. The preschools were located in areas of low socioeconomic status without access to fluoridated water. An oral health education component was administered to children, parents and educators. A new toothbrush and toothpaste for each child was delivered to the parents at baseline and at four follow-up visits. The participants were randomly allocated to receive fluoride varnish or placebo applications every six months. Trained, calibrated dentists blind to the treatment arm performed visual dental assessments at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. The primary endpoint was the development of cavitated carious lesions in children during the 24-month follow-up period using WHO criteria, and the secondary outcomes were an increase in caries measured as a change in the index of decayed, missing or filled teeth (dmft) since the beginning of the study and the development of adverse effects. An intention-to-treat (ITT) approach was used for the primary analysis. Results: We included 131 participants in the intervention group and 144 participants in the placebo group; of these children, 89 (67.9%) in the intervention group and 100 (69.4%) in the control group completed the protocol. The comparative ITT analysis of caries incidence after 24 months of follow-up showed a between-group prevention fraction of 18.9% (À2.9%-36.2%). Caries incidence was 45.0% for the experiment group and 55.6% for the control group (P = .081), with a mean dmft of 1.6 (SD = 2.4) and 2.1 (SD = 2.5), respectively. No adverse effects were reported. Conclusions: In conclusion, biannual fluoride varnish application is not effective in preschool children from rural nonfluoridated communities at a high risk of caries.

PubMed, Aug 29, 2019

Objectives: To test the effectiveness of fluoride varnish in preventing caries in early childhood... more Objectives: To test the effectiveness of fluoride varnish in preventing caries in early childhood in children at high risk of caries. Basic research design: Randomized controlled trial. Participants: 504 participants, with mean age of 21 months at baseline randomly allocated into a test and a control group. 427 children remained in the study after two years. Intervention: Fluoride varnish applied four times a year, every three months. The intervention lasted for two years. Main outcome measures: Dental status was recorded based on the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICADS). Results: Mean dmfs was similar in the control and test groups at baseline (1.0 and 1.2 respectively) but was significantly different (10.1 and 5.2, p ⟨ 0.001, ANOVA) at endpoint. The proportion caries free in the two groups was 40% and 69.4% after two years. Conclusions: The application of fluoride varnish four times a year prevented the incidence and reduced the severity of caries in pre-school children. Trial registration number: DRKS00013980.

PubMed, Mar 1, 2016

Aim: Understanding factors in mothers associated with high and low salivary levels of Streptococc... more Aim: Understanding factors in mothers associated with high and low salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli is an important strategy for early childhood caries prevention. Aim of the study was to identify the association between salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans/Lactobacillus and potential caries risk factors in mothers. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional design used a voluntary sample of 300 mothers of young children. Close-ended questions and observations were used to identify mothers' potential caries risk factors. The presence of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli was determined using the CRT bacteria test (Ivoclar Vivadent). All collected information was converted into frequency and proportion describing the prevalence factor in correlation with Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli cariogenic bacteria levels of infection. Results Sample participants showed a high caries risk based on socioeconomic, behavioural and clinical factors. Results: also showed high levels (>105) of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli infections among 28% of mothers. Three factors were significantly associated with Streptococcus mutans infection: level of education, past caries experiences, and observable dental plaque, whereas, a fourth factor, frequency of daily tooth brushing, was associated to Lactobacilli infection. Conclusion: This study showed that easily collectible informations such as maternal level of education, frequency of daily tooth brushing and past clinical factors tend to be associated with high level of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli infections in caregivers.

BMC Public Health, Dec 1, 2010

Background: Even though it has been widely studied, early childhood caries (ECC) remains a seriou... more Background: Even though it has been widely studied, early childhood caries (ECC) remains a serious public health problem, especially in countries where there is no national program of oral health assessment and no genuine primary oral health care, such as in Kosovo. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of ECC and analyze caries risk factors. Methods: The subjects were 1,008 preschool children, selected by stratified random cluster sampling, in the municipality of Prishtina, capital of Kosovo. Data were collected through clinical examination and interviews. Dmft data were recorded according to WHO criteria. Bacterial examination (CRT bacteria test) and plaque test of Greene-Vermillion were used. Results: The mean dmft of preschool children was found to be 5.8. The prevalence of ECC was 17.36%, with a mean dmft of 11 ± 3.6. Streptococcus mutans prevalence in ECC children was 98%. A significant correlation between dmft and S mutans counts (≥10 5 CFU/mL saliva) was demonstrated. A correlation was also found between daily sweets consumption and dmft in children with ECC (P < 0.001). Comparing the dmft of ECC children and duration of bottle feeding showed a statistical correlation (P < 0.001). The mean plaque test was 1.52. None of the examined children had ever used fluoride. Conclusion: The prevalence of ECC was high among preschool children in the municipality of Kosovo. We recommend increasing parents' knowledge of proper feeding habits and oral health practices, and increasing preschool children's accessibility to dental services.

International Journal of Biomedicine, Dec 5, 2022

The goal of this research was to evaluate the oral health of the children of the Roma, Ashkali, a... more The goal of this research was to evaluate the oral health of the children of the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian (RAE) community in relation to toothbrushing frequency. Methods and Results: A total of 201 children (93 boys and 108 girls) participated in this research. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index of deciduous teeth and the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) developed by Greene and Vermillion were evaluated in relation to toothbrushing frequency. Our research revealed an important and significant difference in toothbrushing frequency between the variables for F=3.7839 and P=0.0244. Children who brushed their teeth twice a day had a markedly lower DMFT index (3.15±3.29) than children who brushed their teeth less than once a day (4.86±3.81). Also, this group of children for P=0.02 had a markedly lower DMFT index (3.15±3.29) than children who brushed their teeth once a day (4.86±3.81). An important and significant difference was found between plaque index (PI) and toothbrushing frequency (H=7.86, P=0.02). Conclusion: Difficult economic circumstances and poor oral hygiene are the main factors causing poor oral health in this group of children.

Revista e Stomatologëve të Kosovës

Dental caries is one of the diseases with the highest preva- lence in children worldwide. Accordi... more Dental caries is one of the diseases with the highest preva- lence in children worldwide. According to the data collect- ed by the Clinic of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry on the prevalence of caries in preschool and school age chil- dren of Kosovo, it is evidenced for a high level of the pres- ence of caries. Every disease, which has a wide distribution, and which is influenced by social conditions, besides being a health problem for the patient, is also a public problem at the same time. Since treatment services are not able to act efficiently in dental diseases, then other options, mainly of a preventive nature, should be considered. Recently, more and more priority is given to oral health promotion initia- tives. Health promotion offers opportunities to influence the main determinants of oral health and thus improve oral health in all segments of society. This involves a range of strategies, one of which may be health education. The success of health promotion depends grea...

International Journal of Biomedicine

The goal of this research was to evaluate the oral health of the children of the Roma, Ashkali, a... more The goal of this research was to evaluate the oral health of the children of the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian (RAE) community in relation to toothbrushing frequency. Methods and Results: A total of 201 children (93 boys and 108 girls) participated in this research. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index of deciduous teeth and the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) developed by Greene and Vermillion were evaluated in relation to toothbrushing frequency. Our research revealed an important and significant difference in toothbrushing frequency between the variables for F=3.7839 and P=0.0244. Children who brushed their teeth twice a day had a markedly lower DMFT index (3.15±3.29) than children who brushed their teeth less than once a day (4.86±3.81). Also, this group of children for P=0.02 had a markedly lower DMFT index (3.15±3.29) than children who brushed their teeth once a day (4.86±3.81). An important and significant difference was found between plaque index (PI) and ...

International Journal of Dentistry, 2018

Objectives. The oral health services of the prison population are considered more complex than th... more Objectives. The oral health services of the prison population are considered more complex than those of the general population. The aim of this study was to examine the oral health status (the DMFT index and OHI index) and to evaluate the relation between the oral health and risk factors of inmates of this population, thus identifying the dental health status of inmates by gender, age, and the duration of their sentence. Materials and Methods. Our study has included a total number of 150 inmates, of both genders, from Lipjan prison house in Kosovo. Results. Oral health condition of inmates in Lipjan prison house is severe; the average value of DMFT is 8.44: for minors 6.22, while for adults 9.55. The assessment of DMFT index within the recruited inmates in our study shows that the mean rate of oral cure was 3.21, while the mean extraction value and caries were 3.55 and 3.58, respectively. The mean plaque test value was 1.44. Conclusion. Based on this research, we have concluded that...

The aim of this study was to assess the dental caries experience, of children and adolescent with... more The aim of this study was to assess the dental caries experience, of children and adolescent with special health care needs. The study entailed the clinical examination of 86 children and adolscent, between 6 and 19 years old, who were attending special school in Prishtina, Kosovo. The children with special health care needs were grouped in four types of disabilities: Mental Retardation, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autistic Disorder. DMFT index (Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth) was used to record the dental status; only permanent dentitions was considered Carries examination were carried out in accordance with WHO criteria. The Results: showed that prevalence of caries was very high (95%), only five children were without caries. Mean DMFT for all participants was around 5.92±3.76. Level of treated teeth was very low (8%), extracted teeth was 10%, while number of decayed teeth was (82%). Cerebral Palsy group had the highest DMFT scores (7.9±4.6) compared with other types of d...

Every modern society’s primary goal is to ensure proper health care for their children. Problems ... more Every modern society’s primary goal is to ensure proper health care for their children. Problems of obesity/overweight and underweight in children related to caries and overall oral health is well documented. In our pilot study we compared the potential correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI), dental caries and Respiratory System Disease in children age 8 – 15 years old patients. Data for a total of 121 children was obtained at the University Dentistry Clinical Center of Kosova, Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry Clinic from May until December 2016.The children’s demographic data, age, gender, dental status, OHI-S calculations, respiratory disease data, orthodontic anomalies and dmft/DMFT values are noted. Research team members observed eight most frequent diagnoses, respiratory tract infections both in upper and lower airways, asthma and allergic rhinitis (ICD 46X). 121 subjects are included age 8 15, average age was 11.4 (SD ± 2.3 years). From the overall population 60 children ...

European Journal of Dentistry, 2011

ABSTRACTObjectives: The aim of this study was to assess caries prevalence of preschool and school... more ABSTRACTObjectives: The aim of this study was to assess caries prevalence of preschool and school children in Kosovo. Methods: The assessment, which was carried out between 2002 and 2005, included measurements of early childhood caries, deft and DMFT. Results: In total, 1,237 preschool and 2,556 school children were examined. The mean deft of preschool children was 5.9, and the mean DMFT of school children aged 12 was 5.8. The caries prevalence for 2- to 6-year-old preschool children was 91.2%, and the prevalence for 7- to 14-yearold school children was 94.4%. The prevalence of early childhood caries was 17.6%, with a mean deft of 10.6. Conclusions: All data assessed showed the very poor oral health status of children in Kosovo. Interviews with children and teachers indicated poor knowledge regarding oral health. Significant measures must be taken to improve this situation. (Eur J Dent 2011;5:32-39)

Oral health & preventive dentistry, 2014

Insufficient attention paid by public institutions to primary oral health protection measures has... more Insufficient attention paid by public institutions to primary oral health protection measures has contributed to a poor oral health status in Kosovo, especially in children. Because the oral health promotion activities identified the significant roles of mothers in primary prevention, the aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and the behaviour of mothers in connection with the caries experience of their children. 664 of the mothers who accompanied their children to dental visits were interviewed and data on maternal knowledge and attitudes towards the oral health of preschool children were collected. The children underwent dental examination and the dmft index was recorded. The mean dmft index in all children was 6.30 ± 3.23. A high prevalence of early childhood caries was recorded. The highest mean dmft was recorded for children whose mothers had finished primary and secondary school (6.41 ± 3.36 and 6.62 ± 2.87, respectively). The mothers displayed insufficient...

BMC Public Health, 2010

Background: Even though it has been widely studied, early childhood caries (ECC) remains a seriou... more Background: Even though it has been widely studied, early childhood caries (ECC) remains a serious public health problem, especially in countries where there is no national program of oral health assessment and no genuine primary oral health care, such as in Kosovo. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of ECC and analyze caries risk factors. Methods: The subjects were 1,008 preschool children, selected by stratified random cluster sampling, in the municipality of Prishtina, capital of Kosovo. Data were collected through clinical examination and interviews. Dmft data were recorded according to WHO criteria. Bacterial examination (CRT bacteria test) and plaque test of Greene-Vermillion were used. Results: The mean dmft of preschool children was found to be 5.8. The prevalence of ECC was 17.36%, with a mean dmft of 11 ± 3.6. Streptococcus mutans prevalence in ECC children was 98%. A significant correlation between dmft and S mutans counts (≥10 5 CFU/mL saliva) was demonstrated. A correlation was also found between daily sweets consumption and dmft in children with ECC (P < 0.001). Comparing the dmft of ECC children and duration of bottle feeding showed a statistical correlation (P < 0.001). The mean plaque test was 1.52. None of the examined children had ever used fluoride. Conclusion: The prevalence of ECC was high among preschool children in the municipality of Kosovo. We recommend increasing parents' knowledge of proper feeding habits and oral health practices, and increasing preschool children's accessibility to dental services.

cdn.intechopen.com

Health has been described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as follows:???health comprise co... more Health has been described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as follows:???health comprise complete physical and social well-being and is not merely the absence of disease??? (World Health Organization 1946). According to World Health Organization, oral health is the overall ...

Scientific Reports

Non-invasive caries treatment is a major focus in modern dentistry. The present study was designe... more Non-invasive caries treatment is a major focus in modern dentistry. The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of monomeric self-assembling peptide P11-4 (SAP P11-4) in combination with fluoride varnish or polymeric self-assembling peptide matrix (SAPM) in treatment of non-cavitated occlusal caries. Ninety children and adolescents were included in this randomized, gold-standard-controlled clinical trial. Test Group 1 received SAP P11-4 and twice fluoride varnish at baseline and Day 180, Test Group 2 received SAP P11-4 on baseline and twice weekly SAPM (home-application), and Control Group received fluoride varnish on baseline and Day 180. Caries progression was measured by laser fluorescence, Nyvad Caries Activity, ICDAS-II-codes, and investigator assessments. Laser fluorescence changes demonstrated superior results for Test Group 1 and 2, as values decreased compared to an increase for the Control Group (p

It is a presentation of anomalies of mandibular progeny, and maxillary frontal alveolar ridge atr... more It is a presentation of anomalies of mandibular progeny, and maxillary frontal alveolar ridge atrophy in a thirty-six years old patient with profound esthetic and functional problems. Due to the absence of maxillary frontal teeth, the orthodontic therapy was applied only in the mandible, with frontal teeth retrusion and intrusion followed by pre-prosthetic preparation. A fixed prosthetic appliance was constructed for the maxillary frontal region with the reconstruction of the atrophied alveolar ridge using pink ceramic. The analysis of the teleradiographs showed an overjet reduction. At the end of the treatment an optimal occlusion is achieved (overbite 1 mm) and the esthetics has been significantly improved and stable even seven years after the treatment. Case report (J Int Dent Med Res 2016; 9: (3), pp. 249-253)

Revista e Stomatologëve të Kosovës, Dec 10, 2023

International Journal of Dentistry, 2018

Objectives. e oral health services of the prison population are considered more complex than thos... more Objectives. e oral health services of the prison population are considered more complex than those of the general population. e aim of this study was to examine the oral health status (the DMFT index and OHI index) and to evaluate the relation between the oral health and risk factors of inmates of this population, thus identifying the dental health status of inmates by gender, age, and the duration of their sentence. Materials and Methods. Our study has included a total number of 150 inmates, of both genders, from Lipjan prison house in Kosovo. Results. Oral health condition of inmates in Lipjan prison house is severe; the average value of DMFT is 8.44: for minors 6.22, while for adults 9.55. e assessment of DMFT index within the recruited inmates in our study shows that the mean rate of oral cure was 3.21, while the mean extraction value and caries were 3.55 and 3.58, respectively. e mean plaque test value was 1.44. Conclusion. Based on this research, we have concluded that the oral health condition of the inmates in Lipjan prison is not good, due to the presence of different risk factors among them.

Dental caries is one of the diseases with the highest preva- lence in children worldwide. Accordi... more Dental caries is one of the diseases with the highest preva- lence in children worldwide. According to the data collect- ed by the Clinic of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry on the prevalence of caries in preschool and school age chil- dren of Kosovo, it is evidenced for a high level of the pres- ence of caries. Every disease, which has a wide distribution, and which is influenced by social conditions, besides being a health problem for the patient, is also a public problem at the same time. Since treatment services are not able to act efficiently in dental diseases, then other options, mainly of a preventive nature, should be considered. Recently, more and more priority is given to oral health promotion initia- tives. Health promotion offers opportunities to influence the main determinants of oral health and thus improve oral health in all segments of society. This involves a range of strategies, one of which may be health education. The success of health promotion depends greatly on the devel- opment of the cooperation of a large number of subjects, from the involved population, dental professionals and lo- cal and state institutions. In the strategy for the promotion of oral health in Kosovo, based on our conditions, changing behaviors in improving oral hygiene and reducing intake of sweet food should be considered as a priority during oral health promotion activities.

SGEM International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conferences on Social Sciences and Arts, Aug 20, 2017

Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) constitutes a serious public health issue, especially in... more Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) constitutes a serious public health issue, especially in communities without water fluoridation. We assessed the effectiveness of biannual fluoride varnish applications to prevent ECC in children from nonfluoridated rural areas. Methods: A triple-blind randomized control trial with two parallel arms was conducted with 275 two-to three-year-old children without cavitated carious lesions from 28 rural public preschools in Chile. The preschools were located in areas of low socioeconomic status without access to fluoridated water. An oral health education component was administered to children, parents and educators. A new toothbrush and toothpaste for each child was delivered to the parents at baseline and at four follow-up visits. The participants were randomly allocated to receive fluoride varnish or placebo applications every six months. Trained, calibrated dentists blind to the treatment arm performed visual dental assessments at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. The primary endpoint was the development of cavitated carious lesions in children during the 24-month follow-up period using WHO criteria, and the secondary outcomes were an increase in caries measured as a change in the index of decayed, missing or filled teeth (dmft) since the beginning of the study and the development of adverse effects. An intention-to-treat (ITT) approach was used for the primary analysis. Results: We included 131 participants in the intervention group and 144 participants in the placebo group; of these children, 89 (67.9%) in the intervention group and 100 (69.4%) in the control group completed the protocol. The comparative ITT analysis of caries incidence after 24 months of follow-up showed a between-group prevention fraction of 18.9% (À2.9%-36.2%). Caries incidence was 45.0% for the experiment group and 55.6% for the control group (P = .081), with a mean dmft of 1.6 (SD = 2.4) and 2.1 (SD = 2.5), respectively. No adverse effects were reported. Conclusions: In conclusion, biannual fluoride varnish application is not effective in preschool children from rural nonfluoridated communities at a high risk of caries.

PubMed, Aug 29, 2019

Objectives: To test the effectiveness of fluoride varnish in preventing caries in early childhood... more Objectives: To test the effectiveness of fluoride varnish in preventing caries in early childhood in children at high risk of caries. Basic research design: Randomized controlled trial. Participants: 504 participants, with mean age of 21 months at baseline randomly allocated into a test and a control group. 427 children remained in the study after two years. Intervention: Fluoride varnish applied four times a year, every three months. The intervention lasted for two years. Main outcome measures: Dental status was recorded based on the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICADS). Results: Mean dmfs was similar in the control and test groups at baseline (1.0 and 1.2 respectively) but was significantly different (10.1 and 5.2, p ⟨ 0.001, ANOVA) at endpoint. The proportion caries free in the two groups was 40% and 69.4% after two years. Conclusions: The application of fluoride varnish four times a year prevented the incidence and reduced the severity of caries in pre-school children. Trial registration number: DRKS00013980.

PubMed, Mar 1, 2016

Aim: Understanding factors in mothers associated with high and low salivary levels of Streptococc... more Aim: Understanding factors in mothers associated with high and low salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli is an important strategy for early childhood caries prevention. Aim of the study was to identify the association between salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans/Lactobacillus and potential caries risk factors in mothers. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional design used a voluntary sample of 300 mothers of young children. Close-ended questions and observations were used to identify mothers' potential caries risk factors. The presence of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli was determined using the CRT bacteria test (Ivoclar Vivadent). All collected information was converted into frequency and proportion describing the prevalence factor in correlation with Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli cariogenic bacteria levels of infection. Results Sample participants showed a high caries risk based on socioeconomic, behavioural and clinical factors. Results: also showed high levels (>105) of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli infections among 28% of mothers. Three factors were significantly associated with Streptococcus mutans infection: level of education, past caries experiences, and observable dental plaque, whereas, a fourth factor, frequency of daily tooth brushing, was associated to Lactobacilli infection. Conclusion: This study showed that easily collectible informations such as maternal level of education, frequency of daily tooth brushing and past clinical factors tend to be associated with high level of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli infections in caregivers.

BMC Public Health, Dec 1, 2010

Background: Even though it has been widely studied, early childhood caries (ECC) remains a seriou... more Background: Even though it has been widely studied, early childhood caries (ECC) remains a serious public health problem, especially in countries where there is no national program of oral health assessment and no genuine primary oral health care, such as in Kosovo. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of ECC and analyze caries risk factors. Methods: The subjects were 1,008 preschool children, selected by stratified random cluster sampling, in the municipality of Prishtina, capital of Kosovo. Data were collected through clinical examination and interviews. Dmft data were recorded according to WHO criteria. Bacterial examination (CRT bacteria test) and plaque test of Greene-Vermillion were used. Results: The mean dmft of preschool children was found to be 5.8. The prevalence of ECC was 17.36%, with a mean dmft of 11 ± 3.6. Streptococcus mutans prevalence in ECC children was 98%. A significant correlation between dmft and S mutans counts (≥10 5 CFU/mL saliva) was demonstrated. A correlation was also found between daily sweets consumption and dmft in children with ECC (P < 0.001). Comparing the dmft of ECC children and duration of bottle feeding showed a statistical correlation (P < 0.001). The mean plaque test was 1.52. None of the examined children had ever used fluoride. Conclusion: The prevalence of ECC was high among preschool children in the municipality of Kosovo. We recommend increasing parents' knowledge of proper feeding habits and oral health practices, and increasing preschool children's accessibility to dental services.

International Journal of Biomedicine, Dec 5, 2022

The goal of this research was to evaluate the oral health of the children of the Roma, Ashkali, a... more The goal of this research was to evaluate the oral health of the children of the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian (RAE) community in relation to toothbrushing frequency. Methods and Results: A total of 201 children (93 boys and 108 girls) participated in this research. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index of deciduous teeth and the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) developed by Greene and Vermillion were evaluated in relation to toothbrushing frequency. Our research revealed an important and significant difference in toothbrushing frequency between the variables for F=3.7839 and P=0.0244. Children who brushed their teeth twice a day had a markedly lower DMFT index (3.15±3.29) than children who brushed their teeth less than once a day (4.86±3.81). Also, this group of children for P=0.02 had a markedly lower DMFT index (3.15±3.29) than children who brushed their teeth once a day (4.86±3.81). An important and significant difference was found between plaque index (PI) and toothbrushing frequency (H=7.86, P=0.02). Conclusion: Difficult economic circumstances and poor oral hygiene are the main factors causing poor oral health in this group of children.

Revista e Stomatologëve të Kosovës

Dental caries is one of the diseases with the highest preva- lence in children worldwide. Accordi... more Dental caries is one of the diseases with the highest preva- lence in children worldwide. According to the data collect- ed by the Clinic of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry on the prevalence of caries in preschool and school age chil- dren of Kosovo, it is evidenced for a high level of the pres- ence of caries. Every disease, which has a wide distribution, and which is influenced by social conditions, besides being a health problem for the patient, is also a public problem at the same time. Since treatment services are not able to act efficiently in dental diseases, then other options, mainly of a preventive nature, should be considered. Recently, more and more priority is given to oral health promotion initia- tives. Health promotion offers opportunities to influence the main determinants of oral health and thus improve oral health in all segments of society. This involves a range of strategies, one of which may be health education. The success of health promotion depends grea...

International Journal of Biomedicine

The goal of this research was to evaluate the oral health of the children of the Roma, Ashkali, a... more The goal of this research was to evaluate the oral health of the children of the Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian (RAE) community in relation to toothbrushing frequency. Methods and Results: A total of 201 children (93 boys and 108 girls) participated in this research. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index of deciduous teeth and the simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S) developed by Greene and Vermillion were evaluated in relation to toothbrushing frequency. Our research revealed an important and significant difference in toothbrushing frequency between the variables for F=3.7839 and P=0.0244. Children who brushed their teeth twice a day had a markedly lower DMFT index (3.15±3.29) than children who brushed their teeth less than once a day (4.86±3.81). Also, this group of children for P=0.02 had a markedly lower DMFT index (3.15±3.29) than children who brushed their teeth once a day (4.86±3.81). An important and significant difference was found between plaque index (PI) and ...

International Journal of Dentistry, 2018

Objectives. The oral health services of the prison population are considered more complex than th... more Objectives. The oral health services of the prison population are considered more complex than those of the general population. The aim of this study was to examine the oral health status (the DMFT index and OHI index) and to evaluate the relation between the oral health and risk factors of inmates of this population, thus identifying the dental health status of inmates by gender, age, and the duration of their sentence. Materials and Methods. Our study has included a total number of 150 inmates, of both genders, from Lipjan prison house in Kosovo. Results. Oral health condition of inmates in Lipjan prison house is severe; the average value of DMFT is 8.44: for minors 6.22, while for adults 9.55. The assessment of DMFT index within the recruited inmates in our study shows that the mean rate of oral cure was 3.21, while the mean extraction value and caries were 3.55 and 3.58, respectively. The mean plaque test value was 1.44. Conclusion. Based on this research, we have concluded that...

The aim of this study was to assess the dental caries experience, of children and adolescent with... more The aim of this study was to assess the dental caries experience, of children and adolescent with special health care needs. The study entailed the clinical examination of 86 children and adolscent, between 6 and 19 years old, who were attending special school in Prishtina, Kosovo. The children with special health care needs were grouped in four types of disabilities: Mental Retardation, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autistic Disorder. DMFT index (Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth) was used to record the dental status; only permanent dentitions was considered Carries examination were carried out in accordance with WHO criteria. The Results: showed that prevalence of caries was very high (95%), only five children were without caries. Mean DMFT for all participants was around 5.92±3.76. Level of treated teeth was very low (8%), extracted teeth was 10%, while number of decayed teeth was (82%). Cerebral Palsy group had the highest DMFT scores (7.9±4.6) compared with other types of d...

Every modern society’s primary goal is to ensure proper health care for their children. Problems ... more Every modern society’s primary goal is to ensure proper health care for their children. Problems of obesity/overweight and underweight in children related to caries and overall oral health is well documented. In our pilot study we compared the potential correlation between Body Mass Index (BMI), dental caries and Respiratory System Disease in children age 8 – 15 years old patients. Data for a total of 121 children was obtained at the University Dentistry Clinical Center of Kosova, Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry Clinic from May until December 2016.The children’s demographic data, age, gender, dental status, OHI-S calculations, respiratory disease data, orthodontic anomalies and dmft/DMFT values are noted. Research team members observed eight most frequent diagnoses, respiratory tract infections both in upper and lower airways, asthma and allergic rhinitis (ICD 46X). 121 subjects are included age 8 15, average age was 11.4 (SD ± 2.3 years). From the overall population 60 children ...

European Journal of Dentistry, 2011

ABSTRACTObjectives: The aim of this study was to assess caries prevalence of preschool and school... more ABSTRACTObjectives: The aim of this study was to assess caries prevalence of preschool and school children in Kosovo. Methods: The assessment, which was carried out between 2002 and 2005, included measurements of early childhood caries, deft and DMFT. Results: In total, 1,237 preschool and 2,556 school children were examined. The mean deft of preschool children was 5.9, and the mean DMFT of school children aged 12 was 5.8. The caries prevalence for 2- to 6-year-old preschool children was 91.2%, and the prevalence for 7- to 14-yearold school children was 94.4%. The prevalence of early childhood caries was 17.6%, with a mean deft of 10.6. Conclusions: All data assessed showed the very poor oral health status of children in Kosovo. Interviews with children and teachers indicated poor knowledge regarding oral health. Significant measures must be taken to improve this situation. (Eur J Dent 2011;5:32-39)

Oral health & preventive dentistry, 2014

Insufficient attention paid by public institutions to primary oral health protection measures has... more Insufficient attention paid by public institutions to primary oral health protection measures has contributed to a poor oral health status in Kosovo, especially in children. Because the oral health promotion activities identified the significant roles of mothers in primary prevention, the aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and the behaviour of mothers in connection with the caries experience of their children. 664 of the mothers who accompanied their children to dental visits were interviewed and data on maternal knowledge and attitudes towards the oral health of preschool children were collected. The children underwent dental examination and the dmft index was recorded. The mean dmft index in all children was 6.30 ± 3.23. A high prevalence of early childhood caries was recorded. The highest mean dmft was recorded for children whose mothers had finished primary and secondary school (6.41 ± 3.36 and 6.62 ± 2.87, respectively). The mothers displayed insufficient...

BMC Public Health, 2010

Background: Even though it has been widely studied, early childhood caries (ECC) remains a seriou... more Background: Even though it has been widely studied, early childhood caries (ECC) remains a serious public health problem, especially in countries where there is no national program of oral health assessment and no genuine primary oral health care, such as in Kosovo. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of ECC and analyze caries risk factors. Methods: The subjects were 1,008 preschool children, selected by stratified random cluster sampling, in the municipality of Prishtina, capital of Kosovo. Data were collected through clinical examination and interviews. Dmft data were recorded according to WHO criteria. Bacterial examination (CRT bacteria test) and plaque test of Greene-Vermillion were used. Results: The mean dmft of preschool children was found to be 5.8. The prevalence of ECC was 17.36%, with a mean dmft of 11 ± 3.6. Streptococcus mutans prevalence in ECC children was 98%. A significant correlation between dmft and S mutans counts (≥10 5 CFU/mL saliva) was demonstrated. A correlation was also found between daily sweets consumption and dmft in children with ECC (P < 0.001). Comparing the dmft of ECC children and duration of bottle feeding showed a statistical correlation (P < 0.001). The mean plaque test was 1.52. None of the examined children had ever used fluoride. Conclusion: The prevalence of ECC was high among preschool children in the municipality of Kosovo. We recommend increasing parents' knowledge of proper feeding habits and oral health practices, and increasing preschool children's accessibility to dental services.

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Health has been described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as follows:???health comprise co... more Health has been described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as follows:???health comprise complete physical and social well-being and is not merely the absence of disease??? (World Health Organization 1946). According to World Health Organization, oral health is the overall ...

Scientific Reports

Non-invasive caries treatment is a major focus in modern dentistry. The present study was designe... more Non-invasive caries treatment is a major focus in modern dentistry. The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of monomeric self-assembling peptide P11-4 (SAP P11-4) in combination with fluoride varnish or polymeric self-assembling peptide matrix (SAPM) in treatment of non-cavitated occlusal caries. Ninety children and adolescents were included in this randomized, gold-standard-controlled clinical trial. Test Group 1 received SAP P11-4 and twice fluoride varnish at baseline and Day 180, Test Group 2 received SAP P11-4 on baseline and twice weekly SAPM (home-application), and Control Group received fluoride varnish on baseline and Day 180. Caries progression was measured by laser fluorescence, Nyvad Caries Activity, ICDAS-II-codes, and investigator assessments. Laser fluorescence changes demonstrated superior results for Test Group 1 and 2, as values decreased compared to an increase for the Control Group (p