Introduction Moldova, Belarus, and Armenia are post-Soviet countries with a high rate of heavy smokers and a relatively high age-standardized incidence of oral cancer. However, to our knowledge, there is lack of available information on dentists’ knowledge on prevention of oral cancer in the countries in question. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the knowledge, opinions, and practices related to oral cancer prevention and oral mucosal examination among dentists in Moldova, Belarus, and Armenia. Methods This was a multi-country, cross-sectional study based on a self-administered questionnaire. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 3534 dentists (797 in Chisinau, Moldova, 1349 in Minsk, Belarus, and 1388 in Yerevan, Armenia). Dentists' knowledge about risk factors for oral cancer development and its clinical picture, current practices and opinions with regard to oral mucosal screening and oral cancer prevention, and their consistency to perform oral mucosal examination were assessed. A knowledge score ranging from 0 to 14 points was generated based on each dentist’s answer to the questionnaire. Results A total of 1316 dentists responded, achieving an overall response rate of 37.2% (34.5% in Moldova; 52.3% in Belarus; 24.2% in Armenia). Most dentists in the three countries correctly identified tobacco (83.8–98.2%) and prior oral cancer lesions (84.0–96.3%) as risk factors for oral cancer. Most dentists correctly identified leukoplakia as a lesion with malignant potential (68.7% in Moldova; 88.5% in Belarus; 69.9% in Armenia), while erythroplakia was identified by much fewer in all three countries. Less than 52% of dentists identified the tongue, rim of tongue, and floor of mouth as the most common sites for oral cancer. The mean knowledge score for all countries combined was 7.5 ± 2.7. The most commonly reported barriers to perform oral mucosal examination were lack of training, knowledge, and experience. Conclusions This study highlights the need for improved oral cancer-related education and training on oral mucosal examination for dentists in Moldova, Belarus, and Armenia. Such skills are essential to enhance oral cancer prevention and to improve the prognostic outcome by early detection.

These WHO key index age groups may be inserted into the global oral health databank and provide a 'pathfinder' baseline for formulating and conducting future public oral health programmes in the Republic of Moldova, with an emphasis on children in rural locations.

Objectives: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the epidemiological data on dental injuries in permanent teeth among seventh and tenth grade schoolchildren in the Republic of Moldova. Study design:The pathfinder study model was chosen to evaluate the prevalence of Traumatic Dental Injuries (TDI). Schoolchildren ages 12 and 15 years old were examined: In the capital city (four schools), in two other major cities–(two schools each city), and in four villages (one per each village) in accordance with the WHO's recommendations. Results: A total of 720 seventh and tenth grade schoolchildren were examined. The overall prevalence of TDI was found to be 16.4% (total of 118 children). The prevalence of TDI was greater in the older age cohort (p<0.05). Children from rural areas presented with greater prevalence of TDI compared to children who live in urban region (p<0.03). The maxillary central incisors were found to be the most common teeth affected by trauma constituting 57.1% of the evaluated TDI cases. Enamel fracture was the main type of TDI (83%). Conclusions: The TDI mainly involved enamel fractures. Urban schoolchildren show lower rates of TDI compared to rural schoolchildren.

Oral lichen planus is a chronic, mucocutaneous condition with an unidentified etiology. Women between the ages of 30 and 60 are most affected. The incidence rate for the entire population is 1-2%. Bilateral lesions are typically whitish, sometimes ulcerated. The importance of this condition is related to the frequency of occurrence, the clinical resemblance to other diseases of the mucosa, sometimes with persistent pain and the possible relationship with squamous cell carcinoma. There are several hypotheses regarding the etiology of these diseases, they include: the genetic factor, infectious, psychogenic and autoimmune. The diagnosis of oral plan lichen is made on the basis of clinical and morphopathological examination where information on changes in tissue and cells is obtained.

Background: The dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) becomes a significant and serious problem for modern society. TMJ disorder is the pathology of the stomatognathic system that is encountered more and more often every year, because the etiology is different and the pathogenesis is not well investigated. This disease is the result of the action of many factors that are constantly related to each other and over time can intensify and aggravate each other. A large number of studies have been done, articles and scientific papers have been published on the subject to establish the degree of prevalence and severity of this disease. Every year there are more and more patients with this pathology, which would mean that an effective solution in solving this problem has not yet been found and the topic remains relevant to this day. Insufficient knowledge of the mechanisms of this disease is one of the main reasons for the ineffectiveness of the treatment methods used. The objective of the work was to identify the clinical relevance of temporomandibular joint diseases. Conclusions: TMJ dysfunction is a topic that does not lose its relevance, because it is still a problem to identify the causes of pathologies of the TMJ and their treatment. TMJ pathology can be caused by various factors, the identification of this problem should be approached with all seriousness, taking into account all diagnostic methods and a high-quality anamnesis taken from the patient.