150 volume 3 • issue 2 April / June 2013 • pp. 150-154 Marilena Bătăiosu, Iren Moraru, C. Dăguci, Mihaela Ţuculină, Luminiţa Dăguci Abstract Introduction: The World Health Organization has a long tradition on the methodology and monitorization of oral health epidemiological investigations, even in the field of dental caries. According to the targets to be attained in 2020, at the age of 6 years, 80% of children should be cavity‑free and, at the age of 12, DMFT should be no more than 1.5. Based on WHO targets for 2020, an epidemio‑ logical study was performed on school children affected by dental caries, aged between 7‑12 years, from the rural areas of the Dolj County. Methodology: The study protocol included conventional and meticulous visual clinical examination of students, according to WHO methodology, in the Pedodontic Clinics of Craiova ‑ Faculty of Medical Dentistry. Also calculated was the DMFT index, by analy‑ sis of the DT, MT, FT components, as well as the dmft index, by analysis of the dt, mt, ft components. Results: The mean indices of carious experience in temporary den‑ tition decrease with age, due to the progressive disappear‑ ance of milk teeth. The DMFT index values are given, in particular, by components that indicate the number of teeth affected by caries and not of the blocked ones. Con‑ clusions: The results obtained emphasize the need for den‑ tal health education programs at national and community level, the kindergartens and schools having a great poten‑ tial to influence dental health care habits in children. Also emphasized was the need for regional prevention pro‑ grams, as part of an overall national program, which has to consider the socio‑economic and cultural factors. Keywords: dental caries, DMFT index, school children. INTRODUCTION Dental caries, representing a continuing con‑ cern for researchers in the field around the world, occupies an important place on WHO list of pri‑ orities. WHO has a long tradition as to the meth‑ odology and monitoring of oral health epidemiological investigations. Considering the close relationship between oral health, general ORO‑DENTAL STATUS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN 7‑12 YEARS, IN THE RURAL AREAS OF DOLJ COUNTY Marilena BĂTĂIOSU 1 , Iren MORARU 2 , C. DĂGUCI 3 , Mihaela ŢUCULINĂ 4 , Luminiţa DĂGUCI 5 1. Lecturer, PhD, Dept. Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty Medical Dentistry U.M.Ph. Craiova 2. Assistant, PhD, Dept. Odontotherapy, Faculty Medical Dentistry U.M.Ph. Craiova 3. Lecturer, PhD, Dept. Oral Health, Faculty Medical Dentistry U.M.Ph. Craiova 4. Assoc Prof, PhD, Dept. Endodontics, Faculty Medical Dentistry U.M.Ph. Craiova 5. Assistant, PhD, Dept. Prosthetics, Faculty Medical Dentistry U.M.Ph. Craiova Contact person: Moraru Alina Iren, irenmoraru@yahoo.com health and quality of life, the global policy for the improvement of oral health, adopted at the 60 th General Assembly of WHO, in 2007, empha‑ sizes the integration of oral health promotion projects into the national prevention programs and treatment of chronic diseases. According to the targets to be attained in 2020, at the age of 6 years, 80% of children should be cavity‑free and, at the age of 12, DMFT should be no more than 1.5. Based on the WHO targets for 2020, an epidemiological study was per‑ formed on school children affected by dental car‑ ies, aged between 7‑12 years, from the rural areas of the Dolj County. MATERIALS AND METHOD The study included a total number of 258 chil‑ dren of both sexes, aged between 7 and 12 years, studying in 8 schools from the rural areas of the Dolj county. The protocol included conventional and meticulous visual clinical examination according to the WHO methodology, in the Pedi‑ atric Dentistry Clinics of Craiova – Faculty of Medical Dentistry: – Registering, in the examination sheet, of the odontal status in accordance with the WHO methodology; – Determination of DMFT index by analysis of the DT, MT, FT components; – Determination of dmft by analysis of the dt, mt, ft components; – Determination and comparison of dmft and DMFT mean values; Pediatric dentistry