The publication presents the results of the analysis of data on oral health of children and adolescents in Slovenia, which haven’t been available at the national level so far. The absence of data represents a lack of knowledge about the oral health status of the population, the functioning of the (dental) health system and also the inability to improve the system. Data were collected through questionnaires addressed to parents or guardians of children and adolescents under 18 years of age. The methodology follows the international guidelines for the evaluation of oral health, which are part of the project EGOHID, "European Global Oral Health Indicators Development", which also allows comparisons with other countries. The questions were divided into several sections and covered an individual’s oral health care, visits to the dentist, eating habits, limitations in daily life, and basic demographic data. Thus, the findings of the research are divided into content areas, namely oral hygiene (brushing teeth and the use of other cleaning aids and the use of toothpaste with the right amount of fluoride), diet, visits to the dentist, dental education and prevention, dental prevention during pregnancy, oral health related quality of life and access to dental services. The data and findings obtained from the research are upgraded with recommendations that are presented in all subsections. Prevention programs have a long tradition in the field of dental care for children and adolescents, so the results, conclusions and especially the recommendations are intended to upgrade measures to further strengthen oral health, which is an investment in lifelong oral and consequently general health.
COBISS.SI-ID: 26180867
The publication presents the results of the analysis of data on oral health of adults in Slovenia, which haven’t been available at the national level so far. The absence of data represents a lack of knowledge about the oral health status of the population, the functioning of the (dental) health system and also the inability to improve the system. Data were collected using questionnaires addressed to adult individuals aged 18 to 74 years. The methodology follows the international guidelines for the evaluation of oral health, which are part of the project EGOHID, "European Global Oral Health Indicators Development", which also allows comparisons with other countries. The questions were divided into several sections and covered an individual’s oral health care, visits to the dentist, eating habits, tobacco use, limitations in daily life, and basic demographic data. Thus, the findings of the research are divided into content areas, namely oral hygiene (brushing teeth and the use of other cleaning aids and the use of toothpaste with the right amount of fluoride), diet, visits to the dentist, self-assessment of oral health, edentulism and prosthetic devices, oral health related quality of life, and access to dental services. The data and findings obtained from the research are upgraded with recommendations that are presented in all subsections. Because of lack of or underdeveloped preventive programmes in the field of adults’ dental health care, the results, conclusions and especially recommendations are intended for the preparation of measures to strengthen oral health, which is an investment in lifelong oral and consequently general health.
COBISS.SI-ID: 31947523
Background: Oral cancer is a collective name for lip cancer, oral cavity cancer and oropharyngeal cancer; it is one of the most prevalent malignancies in Slovenia. The aim of our study was to analyse the burden of oral cancer in a thirty-year period (1985–2014) in Slovenia. Methods: All new cases of oral and pharyngeal cancer (C00–C14) in Slovenia diagnosed between the years 1985–2014 were retrieved from the population based Slovenian Cancer Registry. The analysis of the burden of oral cancer was performed for three primary locations: lip (C00.0–2), oral cavity (C00.3–9, C02.0–3, C02.8–9, C03, C04, C05.0, C05.8–9, C06) and oropharynx (C01, C02.4, C05.1–2, C09, C10). Time trends in the incidence of oral cancer for three primary locations were presented with average annual percent changes in crude incidence rates. Results: 9,442 new cases of oral and pharyngeal cancer were observed between 1985 and 2014. Final analysis was performed for 7,190 new cases of lip, oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer; 83.4 % of patients were men and 16.6 % were women. Average age of a patient at diagnosis was 59.8 years ± 11.3. The highest incidence of lip cancer was observed in 80+ age group, and the highest incidence of oral and oropharyngeal cancer was observed in 55–59 age group. The proportion of male patients was higher in all three cancer groups. The majority of new cases of lip cancer were diagnosed at a localised stage, whereas the majority of new cases of oral and oropharyngeal cancer were diagnosed at a regional stage. Survival rates were highest for patients with lip cancer and lowest for patients with oropharyngeal cancer. A thirty-year time trend showed that the incidence of lip cancer was decreasing, whereas the incidence rates of oral cavity cancer and oropharyngeal cancer were increasing. Conclusion: Oral cancer is one of the biggest public health and socioeconomic problems of modern society. Early detection of oral cancer improves survival rates and the quality of life of patients. It is necessary to pay attention to the burden of this disease and manage its prevention and control.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4699365