Dental dispensary in Ukraine: State, questions and prospects

Abstract

According to WHO data Dental disease is the most common and cover over 90% of the population of Ukraine. In recent years, this index tends to a constant increase. This leads to growth of somatic diseases, early loss of teeth, increasing the number of people who need dental prosthesis. Indicators of the intensity of cavities in both children and adult populations exceed European ones, reflecting the lack of treatment and preventive measures among the population. Objectives: to identify the main reasons for the denial of dental care, optimize recommendations for attracting people to the dental clinical examination, treatment and prevention measures. Methods: questioning, statistical and bibliographic methods. Results: we conducted a survey among different population groups. Participated in this event 143 persons. The purpose of the research was to identify the main causes of failure of public dental care. The study found out: 39,2% (56 people) do not seek help from a dentist unless the cosmetic defect or pain is present, and consider themselves healthy; 11,9% (17 persons) do not visit dentist regularly because of the lack of time; 2,8% (4 persons) refuse dental preventive and treatment measures and explain this as a fear of dental procedures; 7% (10 people) can not afford quality dental care; 0,7% (1 person) unable to attend dentist because of the lack of such specialists in the region where they live; 22,4% (32 people) visit a dentist once a year; 16% (23 people) regularly have preventive inspection and rehabilitation of oral cavity if necessary at the dentist s at least twice a year. Conclusions: analyzing the methodological literature and research results, we found that the main reason for the growth of the prevalence of dental disease in Ukraine is the refusal of the population of clinical examination. This attitude of people is due to insufficient information provision about the mechanism of dental disease levels increasing and the importance of the scheduled dental help. Quite a large percentage of respondents have a fear of dental procedures. The reason for this phenomenon is stereotyped attitudes to dental equipment, which was formed in the middle of 20th century, when due to insufficient development of the dental industry and anesthetic drugs. We consider it appropriate to create inform-groups from the number of the students of dental faculties from different medical universities of Ukraine who will inform people about the necessity of dental diseases prevention; to organize routine dental checkups in all educational institutions and at the workplace of Ukrainians; to provide medical staff to the areas where is a lack of skilled medical workers. These measures will help to significantly reduce the prevalence of dental diseases among the population which will increase the quality of life and reduce the overall morbidity.