Research Article
Sandra Berzina, Ruta Care, Ann
Abstract
The Baltic countries are Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, which in 2004 joined the European Union. Till regaining of independence dental care in the Baltic countries was free of charge to all population. Together with changes in the social order in all three Baltic countries situation in the area of oral health care changed as well. The dental care and preventive programmes which was formerly provided at schools, kindergartens and specialized dental clinics ceased to exist. In Latvia dental caries is a problem of whole population and is relevant to all age groups. Social risk factors – unemployment, low incomes, a lack of preventive programmes in kindergartens and schools, lack of paediatric specialists in dentistry - are reasons for high prevalence of caries and periodontal diseases in Latvia. A special dental public health problem is the early childhood caries, which is increasing during last years. According to a local clinical study performed in 2007, in Riga, near one third of the examined children at the age 2 to 4 had caries. Additionally the results showed that only one third of children brushed teeth twice a day. In most cases mothers did not supervise the tooth brushing. Conclusions: 1. Caries prevalence in Latvia is comparatively high. 2. Insufficient information and knowledge about caries prevention, oral hygiene and caries risk factors of children among mothers leads to high prevalence of ECC. 3. In Latvia is need for caries preventive programs in kindergartens and schools and special preventive programs for children with high caries risk.