Master i odontologi Ioanna Dallari Jacobsen disputerer for ph.d.-graden i helsevitenskap og vil offentlig forsvare avhandlingen:
”Dental health and need for non-operative treatment among 16-year-olds in Northern Norway”
Kort sammendrag av avhandlingen:
Statistical data have shown a considerable reduction in caries disease among children and adolescents in Western countries, including Norway, for over 40 years. Recently, diagnosis and treatment of early stages of caries have received increased focus. At the same time, dental erosion seems to be a growing problem among the same age groups. The present thesis was based on an oral and general health study (Fit Futures) of 869, 16-year-olds from Troms County. The aim of the thesis were to estimate the dental health of the participants with particular focus on caries disease and erosive lesions. It was also to evaluate the quality of existing dental fillings, and to estimate the prevalence of early signs of caries and the subsequent need for early treatment. Use of smokeless tobacco, dental fear, self-rated dental health and occurrence of early caries lesions were strongly associated to the number of teeth with cavitation. Only 6 % of the 16-year-olds were completely free from caries. Eighty-four per cent of the participants had early signs of caries without cavitation and a majority of them had also either filled teeth or both filled teeth and untreated cavities. Over one third of the participants with fillings had at least one filling of poor or unacceptable quality. More than one third of the adolescents had erosive lesions on at least one tooth surface, either limited to the enamel or extending into the dentine. Caries disease and erosive lesions are challenging conditions among North Norwegian 16-year-olds. The high prevalence of early signs of both conditions entails a need for early preventive interventions. A relevant and successful treatment strategy for teenagers might be general prevention and shorter recall intervals in order to diagnose any active disease (caries or erosion) early enough to avoid placing of fillings. The teen years is a vulnerable time in life. Adolescents leave parental guidance, family routines and food habits, and need support on the way to adult life. The high number of teeth with cavitation per participant, and the high number of 16-year-olds with fillings needing repair or replacement, further indicate the importance of early treatment aiming to reduce the need of traditional treatment with fillings and minimize the vicious circle of subsequent re-treatments throughout life.
(Avhandlingen er tilgjengelig for utlån hos Seksjon for utdanningstjenester frem til disputasdato)
Veiledere
Hovedveileder instituttleder Arne Christer Ullbro, Klinisk odontologi, UiT Norges arktiske universitet
Biveileder professor Claes-Göran Crossner, Klinisk odontologi, UiT Norges arktiske universitet
Biveileder professor Harald Eriksen, Klinisk odontologi, UiT Norges arktiske universitet
Biveileder professor Ivar Espelid, Universitetet i Oslo, Tannhelsetjenestens kompetansesenter for Nord Norge
Bedømmelseskomiteen
Professor Peter Lingström, Odont Dr. ,Department of Cariology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sverige – 1. opponent
Övertandläkare Helène Isaksson, Odont Dr., Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Institute for Postgrate Education Jönköping, Sverige – 2. Opponent
Førsteamanuensis Kerstin Carlstedt, Med Dr., Institutt for klinisk odontologi, UiT Norges arktiske universitet– leder av komiteen
Disputasleder
Førsteamanuensis Arne Christer Ullbro, Odont Dr., Institutt for klinisk odontologi, UiT Norges arktiske universitet
Prøveforelesning over oppgitt emne holdes kl. 10.15, samme sted: “Similarities and differences comparing dental caries and dental erosion”.