Thesis title: INDAGINE SULLE MALATTIE ODONTOSTOMATOLOGICHE E SULLA QUALITÀ DEI TRATTAMENTI ODONTOIATRICI IN UN CAMPIONE RAPPRESENTATIVO DELLA POPOLAZIONE ALBANESE
Abstract
Introduction: In the Albanian public health context, oral health remains a vital marker of well-being; dental caries continues to be the leading cause of tooth loss in adult and older populations, with pronounced geographic and socio-educational disparities.
Objective: To determine the prevalence and distribution of dental caries, periradicular lesions, edentulism, restorations, and dental anomalies, and to assess the quality of dental care through internationally standardized radiological indices.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 1,455 digital orthopantomograms (OPT) and 402 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans from adult residents across all regions of Albania, for a total of 46,560 teeth examined. Sampling used a cluster design with stratification by sex, geographic area (North, Center, South, urban), educational level (low, medium, high), and age class (≤ 30; 31–45; 46–60; > 60 years), to ensure adequate representativeness. Each tooth was assessed according to the DMFT, PAI, and R-PBL indices. Data collection was performed by two independent examiners, with verification of inter-examiner reliability (κ = 0.92).
Results: The mean DMFT index was 7.7. Untreated caries (D) were detected in 13.5% of teeth, with higher frequency among subjects under 45 years. Missing teeth or teeth indicated for extraction (EX+E) accounted for 38.1%, exceeding ≥ 53,7% among subjects over 60 years. Correct Class I–II restorations (A) represented 12,04 % of teeth, while the prevalence of implants (P) remained low (< 1%). DMFT was higher in the North, whereas the prevalence of caries (D) was higher in the Center (p<0.01).
Conclusions: The findings indicate a substantial burden of dental disease among Albanian adults, with marked regional and socio-economic inequalities. These results underscore the need to strengthen preventive measures and to implement a national digital oral-health surveillance system.
Acknowledgments: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome.
Keywords: radiographic survey, DMFT, caries prevalence, oral health, Albania.