The oral health situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is among the worst in Europe. We investigated the oral health behaviour of primary schoolchildren and their parents in Sarajevo. This was an anonymous cross-sectional survey among third-grade schoolchildren and their parents’ oral health habits in Canton Sarajevo. Cluster random sampling yielded a representative sample from all the public schools in Canton Sarajevo in 2019. The survey targeted a total of 441 children and 365 parents. Two thirds (66.5%) of the children reported brushing their teeth twice daily, and almost half of them failed to use fluoride toothpaste daily. Girls brushed their teeth significantly more often than did the boys (74% vs. 58%, p = 0.004). Children living in residential areas of middle and high socioeconomic status (SES) reported better oral health habits than did those living in areas of low SES. Our study showed that Sarajevo children’s oral health habits were poor. One-third of the nine-year-olds failed to brush their teeth according to recommendations, and almost half of them failed to use fluoride toothpaste daily. Improving the children’s oral health in the future will urgently require national oral health promotion and prevention programmes.

Objectives Demarcated opacities (DO) on teeth affected by Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH) were observed to investigate if parameters of DO existence and the number of teeth affected could be used to predict the progression of disease. Material and methods In 2009, the MIH prevalence was 11.5% (n=51) among 446 subjects in Sarajevo, aged from 6 to 9 years. In subjects with MIH who gave consent for further participation (n=25), the teeth with DO were observed after a 12-month period. Results our sample included 29 permanent incisors and 14 first permanent molars with DO. The number of teeth with light opacities was significantly higher than the number of teeth with dark opacities. Opacities were more numerous on surfaces which were not exposed to masticatory pressure. The size of tooth surface affected by DO occurrence ranged from 1.33% to 56.56%. The number of affected teeth ranged from two to six. A strong positive correlation between MIH progression and dark colored opacities located on the occlusal/incisal surface of teeth was noted. Larger part of tooth surface was affected by hypomineralisation in the case of dark-colored opacities. The DO presence on incisors was more likely to be located on vestibular surfaces and on the first permanent molars on their occlusal surfaces. Conclusions The color of DO occurrence was the best predictor for MIH progression both independently and in combination with the number of affected teeth. Location of DO occurrence was a good independent predictor for MIH progression. It is important to collect information about color and location of DO presence.

Introduction: Socioeconomic changes have a significant impact on the health of the population. Socioeconomic development of society is one of the basic determinants of the health condition and needs of the individual and in the population as well. Aim: To explore the existence of differences in indicators of oral health status between the displaced persons and domicile population, considering the socioeconomic status (SES) of the respondents. Patients and Methods: A total of 310 people, aged 35-44 (mean 40.19 ± 3.60), were interviewed and examined, with 157 of them in a subsample of domicile inhabitants and other 153 respondents in displaced persons subsample. The SES of respondents was determined using a survey. After conducted examinations in study participants, determined results were recorded as dental status (DMFT Index), and periodontal status (CPI Index). Results: There was a significant difference in the mean value of caries existence between displaced persons of low and middle SES. In domicile inhabitants, there were no statistically significant differences in mean values of caries existence between the individuals with low and middle SES, while the differences existed between the individuals with low and high and between the middle and high SES. Domicile inhabitants with high SES had significantly less carious lesions than those with lower SES. Domicile inhabitants with high SES had significantly fewer extractions and more teeth with fillings. Conclusion: People with low SES have worse oral health status. Displacement and low socioeconomic status significantly influence the state of oral health.

OBJECTIVE This study sought to obtain a comprehensive, reliable and valid instrument for evaluation of the presence of dental fear and anxiety (DFA) in children, through evaluation of the reliability and validity of three modified versions of the Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS). MATERIALS AND METHODS The study sample comprised children aged 9, 10, 11 and 12 years. The first sample group (200 patients) filled in a modified version of the CFSSDS scale, the second sample group (100 patients) filled in a short form of the Dental Fear Survey Schedule, and the third sample group (100 patients) filled in a short version of the CFSS-DS scale, prior to dental treatment, respectively. In order to determine test-retest reliability, the 184 patients from the first sample group filled in the modified version of the CFSS-DS scale again, prior to their next scheduled dental appointment. RESULTS The modified version of the CFSS-DS scale had the best internal consistency reliability (α=0.907), as well as validity results, compared to the other two instruments used. Test-retest reliability was moderate (Intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.58). CONCLUSIONS Of the three psychometric instruments used for evaluation of DFA presence in children, the modified version of the CFSS-DS scale showed the most clinically adequate reliability and validity values. This study thus provides a new psychometric instrument that should be considered for clinical use in evaluation of DFA presence in 9-12 year-olds, in a clinical setting sample type of children.

Background: Dental fear and anxiety (DFA) are present worldwide globally, as well as in children. These psychological clinical entities in its progressive phase lead to avoiding of dentists and dental appointments, and consequtive impairments of oral health. If we ignore these facts, we would have the strenghtening of this relationship in a way of further oral health impairments and lost of dental hard and soft tissues, as well as appearance of dental phobia as the most negative form of psychological reaction to dental stimuli. Original CFSS-DS scale and its modifications, as the most used instruments for evaluation of DFA presence so far, showed various disadvantages. These were the reasons why we wanted to design new psychometric instrument for better evaluation of DFA presence in children compared to evaluation which the existed scales could offer nowadays, in a form of the Modified Version of CFSS-DS scale (CFSS-DS-mod scale). Materials and methods: There were 809 schoolchildren from 8 cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina aged 9-12 years that participated in the study. There was one school per city where the schoolchildren answered to the questions from the CFSS-DS-mod scale. Results: 636 schoolchildren correctly answered to the scale questions. The CFSS-DS-mod scale showed excellent internal consistency reliability values (with Cronbach α>0.9), and also validity results (mostly over 60% of explained variance of obtained results) with two-dimensional concept of DFA presence. Conclusion: The CFSS-DS-mod scale represents good psychometric instrument for evaluation of the DFA presence in 9-12 year old schoolchildren in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some of normative values of this psychometric instrument should be determined, in order to expand its usage in children.

Summary In this review paper we wanted to summarize all the aspects which could affect the behavior of the child patients in the dental office. At the beginning, the factors that are related to the child patients are mentioned. Various segments of child psychological, cognitive, physiological and other kinds of development are discussed. Also, the reasons for dental fear and anxiety (DFA) and dental behavior problems (DBP) were analyzed, and how the child dental patients could cope with them. Finally, types of patients according to their behavior in the dental office were discussed. Furthermore, the influences of child patients’ parents were studied, including parenting styles, as well as factors related to dentist, dental team and the dental office. Finally, critical evaluation of administration of assets to measure the presence of DFA and DBP is provided. Every part of the text was corroborated by the results from our own and other authors’ recent bibliography data.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge and attitude of dentists in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) regarding signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect (CAN), reporting procedure and level of education. Methods: Data were collected through a self-administrated structured questionnaire adopted and modified from previous studies. It was administrated to 300 dentists out of which a total number of 210 subjects were in final sample for statistical analyses. Response rate was seventy percent. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used to analyze statistical differences in responses. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Dentists in BH are very rarely provided (80%) with training related to recognition and reporting of CAN. Sixty six percent of dentists had never suspected CAN in their practice. Only nine percent of dentists would report suspicious of CAN. Prevailing reasons for not reporting suspected case of CAN was lack of knowledge of the reporting procedure (43%), and combination of indicated answers that never had a case and lack of knowledge about the procedure (31%). Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that dentists need an effective education to increase their knowledge and awareness of all aspects of CAN.

Local anaesthesia is the most common medium for pain control in most dental treatments. Physical appearance of syringe itself can be considered as a provoking factor for the emergence of dental fear and anxiety (DFA). In this research the patient reactions to local anaesthesia application devices, as one of the main causes for DFA emergence, were inquired. The sample comprised of 120 patients, divided in three age groups, formed of 40 patients aged 8, 12 and 15 years. DFA prevalence was quantified by Children Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS). Three different syringes were offered to the patients. Reasons for choosing one of the syringes were detected. Patients assigned statistically highest rank to plastic syringe. Boys chose metal and intraligamental syringe statistically more often than girls. Patients with higher CFSS-DS scores chose metal syringe as last option. None of the reasons for selection was dominant, except pain that could be caused by usage of any of the three syringes. A large number of patients did not mention any of the reasons for choosing particular syringes. Plastic syringe represented the most acceptable device for local anaesthetic application to our patients. Patients often linked pain with dental syringes.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to present epidemiological parameters of caries prevalence in children and adolescents in index age groups on a national and regional level in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH). MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was conducted during 2004 year for children aged 6 and 12, and during 2007 for adolescents aged 15. An oral health survey was performed on a total number of 1,240 children and adolescents in line with World Health Organization methodology and criteria. Results for caries prevalence and treatment needs were presented and discussed in this paper. RESULTS Mean dmft (decay, missing, filled teeth for primary dentition) for children aged six was 6.7 (SD±3.9) in that the decayed teeth constituted the major part of the index (88.8%), followed by extracted teeth (8.9%) and a small percentage of filled teeth (2.3%). In 12-year-olds DMFT (Decay, Missing, Filled Teeth for permanent dentition) was 4.2 (SD±2.9), Significant Caries index (SiC) was 7.7 (SD±2.9), the decayed teeth constituted the major part of the index (45.4%), followed by 42.1% of FT and 12.5% of extracted teeth. Among 15-year-olds the DMFT was 7.6 (SD±4.1), SiC was 9.2 (SD±1.2), and filled teeth constituted the major part of the index. CONCLUSION The present study provides some evidence of relatively high caries prevalence and severity in comparison with Western European countries. It is necessary to devote more attention to the oral health of children and adolescents. Community based oral health promotion, preventive programs and preventive oriented public dental health care services should be made available and accessible to all children in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

U ovom poglavlju rasvjetljuju se temeljna znanja o nastanku karijesa i degradaciji tvrdog zubnog tkiva.

The most frequently used measuring instrument for determination of dental fear and anxiety (DFA) in children nowadays is the Dental Subscale of the Children's Fear Survey Schedule (CFSS-DS). In this study we wanted to explore the reliability and validity of CFSS-DS scale in Bosnian children patients' sample. There were 120 patients in the study, divided in three age groups (8, 12, and 15 years of age), with 40 patients in each group. Original CFSS-DS scale was translated into Bosnian language, and children's version of a scale was used. The high value of the Cronbach's coefficient of internal consistency (α=0.861) was found in the entire scale. Four factors were extracted by screen-test method with Eigen values higher than 1, which explained 63.79% variance of results. CFSS-DS scale is reliable and valid psychometric instrument for DFA evaluation in children in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The differences between our research and those of others may appear due to many factors.

Neredoviti posjeti stomatologu jedan su od najvecih problema danasnje stomatologije, i to zbog postojanja dentalnog straha i anksioznosti. U nasem smo istraživanju željeli kod djece ispitati prevalenciju dentalnog straha i anksioznosti, kao i cimbenike koji uvjetuju njihov nastanak. Ispitnu skupinu cinilo je 120-ero zdrave djece u dobi od 8, 12 i 15 godina, koja su iz razlicitih razloga posjetili Kliniku/Katedru za djecju i preventivnu stomatologiju Stomatoloskog fakulteta Sveucilista u Sarajevu. U svakoj dobnoj skupini bilo je po 40-ero ispitanika. Prevalencija dentalnog straha i anksioznosti kod ispitanika određivala se pomocu dentalne podljestvice pregledne ljestvice djecjeg straha (CFSS-DS). Također se ispitivala prisutnost cimbenika za nastanak dentalnog straha i anksioznosti. U ispitivanom uzorku 11, 7% ispitanika (n=14) imalo je dentalni strah i anksioznost. Ispitanici kroz dob i spol uglavnom podjednako doživljavaju cimbenike za nastanak dentalnog straha i anksioznosti kao stresne. Izdvaja se doživljena bol prilikom tretmana. Izravno izlaganje stetnim cimbenicima ima vrlo bitnu ulogu u nastanku dentalnog straha i anksioznosti kod nasih ispitanika. Rezultati pokazuju kako je veci osjecaj dentalnog straha i anksioznosti kod roditelja pracen vecim osjecajem dentalnog straha i anksioznosti kod njihove djece.