Prevalence of focal odontogenic infection in patients with class II malocclusion studying at Russian Ministry of Defense institutions of comprehensive education

Relevance. Caries and premature loss of teeth is among the causes of the development of malocclusion. Caries develops with greater frequency on proximal and occlusal surfaces of mandibular first molars, which increases the risk of periapical complications due to late diagnosis of tooth decay. Students of the Russian Ministry of Defense schools for comprehensive education belong to reserve units of law enforcement authorities, agencies and services. Therefore, prevention and sustaining their good health, including dental health, is a top priority.The paper objective is to evaluate the frequency of carious lesions of various surfaces of mandibular molars and their complications in students of educational institutions of the Ministry of Defense of Russia.Methods. We examined 30 first year students with class II malocclusion (K07.20 according to ICD-10) aged 11-12 years, using basic (clinical examination and probing) and additional (questionnaires, photo protocol, radiography) research methods. All patients underwent cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in natural occlusion with a resolution of 17Ч15.Results and discussion. 45 % of the examined students revealed latent carious lesions of the enamel below the level of the equator, predominantly localized on the tooth medial surface. At the same time, carious lesions communicating with the tooth cavity in 60.9 % of cases were localized on the contact surfaces (Class II according to Black), in 39.1% - on the chewing surface (Class I according to Black). Periapical foci of destruction were found in 38.3 % of cases.Conclusion. When diagnosing and planning orthodontic treatment of malocclusion in students of the Russian Ministry of Defense institutions, it is important to refer the patient to CBCT in order to timely detect hidden carious lesions of the enamel below the equator and prevent the transition of uncomplicated caries into complicated cases.