Oral Health of Roma Children in Dendropotamos, Greece: A Cross-sectional Study.

AIM: The aim of this study is to document caries status and assess the oral hygiene and periodontal health of Roma children in Thessaloniki-Greece, as well as explore correlations with dental behavior and perceptions.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

All Roma children attending primary schools in a designated Roma community area of Thessaloniki were examined (n = 135). Oral hygiene was evaluated using simplified debris index (DI-S) and simplified calculus index (CI-S), periodontal health was evaluated using the community periodontal index (CPI), and dental caries status was assessed based on ICDAS II criteria. Questionnaires assessed dental behavior and perceptions.

RESULTS

Approximately 3.7% of individuals were caries-free, whereas 83.0% required restorative treatment. Calculus was found in 54.1% of subjects, and 33% presented with bleeding. A significant 51.9% have never visited a dentist and 40.7% seek dental care only in emergencies. Despite over half (51.1%) expressing dissatisfaction with their dental hygiene, 41.5% reported they rarely brush, 3% used dental floss, and 4.4% used fluoride mouthwash. Furthermore, 10.3% of the subjects reported smoking and 8.9% admitted to alcohol consumption.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate the need to enhance Roma children's oral health awareness and access to dental care.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Evaluating the oral health of Roma children identifies unmet needs in a vulnerable group. It enables targeted prevention and treatment strategies. This promotes better overall health and supports equitable healthcare planning and policy development. How to cite this article: Zarkadi AE, Balli D, Athanasiadou P, et al. Oral Health of Roma Children in Dendropotamos, Greece: A Cross-sectional Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2025;26(4):348-355.