Adolescents face common oral health issues like dental caries and periodontal diseases. Risk factors for dental caries in adolescents include location of teeth, frequent snacking on sugary foods and drinks, inadequate brushing, dry mouth, and lack of fluoride. Periodontal diseases become more common in adolescents aged 12-17 and risk factors include age, smoking, genetics, stress, and certain medications. Preventive measures include regular brushing, flossing, fluoride treatment, and dental checkups. Treatment options depend on the disease but may include fillings, root canals, crowns, extractions, scaling, and surgery. It is important for adolescents to practice good oral hygiene and receive periodic dental exams and treatment.

1. DENTAL
DISEASE
BURDEN AND
TREATMENT
NEEDS AMONG
ADOLESCENTS

2. Outline
At the end of this presentation we’ll;
– Identify common dental health diseases facing
adolescents
– Risk factors to the development of this diseases
– Preventive measures to control and keep adolescent oral
health issues in check
– Available treatment options (treatment needs) for
identified diseases adolescents face

3. ORAL HEALTH DISEASES
BURDENING ADOLESCENTS
DENTAL CARIES
PERIODONTAL
DISEASES

4. Dental Caries
– Dental caries is a breakdown of teeth due to activities of
bacteria.
– Dental caries is still a major health problem in most
industrialized countries as it affects 60-90% of school-
aged children and the vast majority of adolescents and
adults. In most developing countries, the levels of dental
caries were low until recent years but prevalence rates of
dental caries and dental caries experience are now
tending to increase.

5. Risk factors to development of
dental caries in Adolescents
– Tooth location
– Certain foods and drinks
– Frequent snacking or sipping
– Bedtime feeding
– Inadequate brushing
– Age
– Dry mouth
– Not getting enough floride
– Eating disorders
– Heart burn

6. Dental Caries: Prevention
– Regular cleaning of the teeth; Brushing the teeth twice per day and flossing
between the teeth once a day is recommended by many
– Consumption of diet low in sugar
– Limit frequency of consumption of sugar-rich meals
– Adequate amounts of fluoride; Fluoride may be from water, salt or toothpaste
among other sources
– Regular screening to early detect anomalies
– Keep risk factors in check

7. Info
graphic
Showing
Measure
s to
prevent
dental
caries

8. Treatment Options
Treatment depends on cause and extent of damage
Treatment includes;
Fluoride treatment: to
restore the enamel
Dental fillings: when
fluoride is not
recommended, and to
fill the hole caused by a
cavity
Crowns: Similar to
fillings, but a custom-
fit made to cover a
damaged tooth
Root canal: In a root
canal, the damaged
inner core of the tooth
is removed and
replaced with a filling
Tooth removal: A tooth that
is damaged beyond repair will
need to be removed. The gap
that is left by a pulled tooth is
often filled with an implant or
bridge.

9. Periodontal diseases
– Epidemiologic studies indicate that gingivitis of varying severity is
nearly universal in children and adolescents. Surveys indicated
that loss of periodontal attachment and supporting bone is
relatively uncommon in the young but that the incidence increases
in adolescents aged 12 to 17 when compared to children aged five
to 11.
– Periodontal diseases are infections of the structures around the
teeth, which include the gums, periodontal ligament and alveolar
bone. In the earliest stage of periodontal disease — gingivitis —
the infection affects the gums. In more severe forms of
the disease, all of the tissues are involved.

10. Graphical image showing
Periodontal Disease at different stages

11. Risk Factors
– Age
– Smoking/Tobacco Use
– Genetics
– Stress
– Medications
– Clenching or grinding of the teeth
– Other Systemic Diseases
– Poor nutrition and obesity
Prevention
– Good oral hygiene by regular
brushing, flossing and
mouthwash
– Avoid risk factors and keep them
in check
– Regular oral health care and
check

12. Treatment Options available for
periodontal diseases
Periodontal diseases include; gingivitis, necrotizing
periodontal disease, periodontitis.
Available treatment options includes;
Scaling and root planning: this is a
careful cleaning of the root
surfaces to remove plaque and
calculus from deep periodontal
pockets and to smooth the tooth
root to remove bacterial toxins
Tray delivery systems: A tray
delivery system consists of a
custom-fit tray made from
impressions of the patient’s mouth.
Patients use the tray at home to
deliver medications that have been
prescribed by their dentist.
Gum graft Surgery: Exposed tooth
roots are the result of gum
recession. Gum graft surgery will
repair the defect and help to
prevent additional recession and
bone loss.
Lasers can be used to treat
periodontal disease
Scaling and root planning: this is a
careful cleaning of the root
surfaces to remove plaque and
calculus from deep periodontal
pockets and to smooth the tooth
root to remove bacterial toxins
Other options include;
• Periodontal pocket reduction
procedures
• Dental implants
• Regenerative procedures, etc.

13. Conclusion & Recommendations
Dental diseases like periodontal diseases and dental caries
burdens adolescents dental health and wellbeing, such factors as
age, food, medications, oral health habits, genetics, etc, may
increase an individuals risk. Thus, it is recommended that;
– Adolescents embrace healthy oral health practices and maintain
good oral hygiene
– Ensure regular and periodic oral health check to detect early
underlying oral health issues; and receive treatment based on
their treatment needs as identified by a dental health physician

14. THE
END