PREVENTIVE NORMS OF DENTAL DISEASES IN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31149/ijnps.v4i7.2958Keywords:
Preventive Dentistry, Oral Hygiene, Gingivitis, KPO Index, Toothbrushing Technique, Law Enforcement OfficersAbstract
Prevention of dental disease is one of the most important directions in modern medicine, yet the preventive behaviors and hygienic status of occupational groups such as law enforcement officers remain insufficiently described. This study aimed to identify and assess the prevalence of dental diseases and preventive (hygienic) norms among law enforcement officers using clinical-dental and statistical methods. Subjective and objective examinations were carried out among 112 personnel aged 18–44 applying for treatment at the dental polyclinic of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with statistical analysis extended to 122 patients (32 men aged 18–30, 56 men aged 31–44, 13 women aged 18–30, and 21 women aged 31–44). All patients (100% of cases) exhibited clinical-symptomatic complaints characteristic of gingivitis, and the KPO caries index averaged 17.94±0.23. Unsatisfactory oral hygiene was found in 67.7% of officers examined. Assessment of hygiene behavior revealed that most patients used horizontal or top-down brushing movements, only 4 patients (3.27%) brushed their teeth consistently, none demonstrated the vibratory motions characteristic of the Bass technique, and dental floss was frequently abandoned after causing gingival bleeding due to incorrect technique. These findings indicate a substantial gap between recommended preventive norms and actual hygiene practice in this occupational population, underscoring the need for structured oral hygiene education and targeted preventive dental programs to reduce the burden of gingivitis and its progression to periodontitis.
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