Caries experience and treatment need among adults responding to an invitation for dental examination and treatment in two Karelian communities in Russia

This study was planned and conducted by the Health Authorities of Karelia in the Russian Federation and the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Kuopio, Finland. The aim of the study was to analyze caries experience and treatment need among adults who responded to an invitation for dental examination and offered free dental treatment in two communities in Karelia. A total of 227 adults aged 30-72 years from 2 rural communities were examined clinically in accordance with WHO criteria by a team of Finnish dental specialists. The participants represented two major ethnic groups (Fenno-Ugrians, 68%; Slavs, 32%). The mean DMFT and DMFS were 15.8 and 58.8, respectively. Among dentate subjects (n = 225) 88% had at least one carious tooth and 80% had one or more filled or crowned teeth. Altogether, 34% of the subjects needed extraction(s), and 83% needed restorative treatment. The main finding of the study was that with regard to caries experience, oral health was quite good compared with that found in Finland and the UK.