Background/Aim. A period of adolescence is characterized by turbulent emotional, physical and physiological changes. There are numerous risk factors that may endanger the oral health of adolescents as the influence of parents reduces whilst the influence of the environment and peers increases. Therefore, the main aim of the study was to determine the behavior of adolescents concerning oral health, using a new statistical method -artificial intelligence algorithms. Methods.In the first part of the survey, data on the behavior of adolescents related to oral health were collected. HU DBI (Hiroshima University Dental Behavioral Inventory) questionnaire was used, additionally expanded with three questions. The second part of the study included clinical examination. The research was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry in Pancevo. The first and second grade students were selected for the observation unit. The total sample consisted of 374 students (128 males and 246 females). We applied special programming language called Python for parsing data, creating a database in digital form, processing data by standard statistical methods and through the SVD (Singular Value Decomposition) method.Results. The artificial intelligence algorithms clustered the respondents in two groups, based on their responses from the HU DBI questionnaire. Thus, the quality of the method and the need for analysis of this type in dental studies are demonstrated and proven.Conclusion. Based on the results obtained through artificial intelligence algorithms, we could conclude that respondents should be rather clustered into characteristic groups and analyzed, than to be divided and observed according to sex, as it is intuitive division. Apstrakt Uvod/Cilј. Period adolescencije karakterišu burne emocionalne, fizičke i fiziološke promene. Javlјaju se brojni faktori rizika koji mogu ugroziti oralno zdravlјe adolescenata jer se uticaj roditelјa smanjuje, a raste uticaj okoline i vršnjaka. Sledstveno, glavni cilј istraživanja bio je da se utvrdi ponašanje adolescenata u vezi oralnog zdravlјa, pri čemu je primenjena nova statistička metodaalgoritmi veštačke inteligencije. 4 Metod. U prvom delu istraživanja, prikuplјeni su podaci o ponašanju adolescenata u vezi sa oralnim zdravlјem. Korišćen je HU DBI upitnik Univerziteta u Hirošimi (Hiroshima University Dental Behavioral Inventory), koji je proširen sa tri pitanja. Drugi deo istraživanja obuhvatio je klinički pregled. Istraživanje je sprovedeno na Stomatološkom fakultetu u Pančevu. Za jedinicu posmatranja izabrani su učenici prvog i drugog razreda srednje škole. Veličina ukupnog uzorka bila je 374 ispitanika (128 ispitanika muškog pola i 246 ispitanika ženskog pola). Za analizu podataka, pravlјenje baze podataka u digitalnoj formi, obradu podataka standardnim statističkim metodama i SVD metodom (Singular Value Decomposition -dekompozicija na singularne vrednosti), korišćen je Piton (Python) program programskog jezika.Rezultati. Algoritmi veštačke inteligencije klasterifikovali su ispitanike u dve grupe, ...

Background/Aim. Dental status and oral hygiene habits are poor in young population living in deprived socioeconomic conditions. The aim of this research was to ascertain oral hygiene habits in adolescents attending high schools in urban area, determine the incidence of tooth loss at the age of 15-16 years and the gender difference. Methods. The epidemiological cross-sectional study included 234 randomly selected high school students. The research instruments were questionnaire (focusing on socio-demographic characteristics, habits, attitudes and behavior related to general and oral health) and clinical examination (tooth loss, normative need for prosthodontics restorations and presence of restorations). Results. Gender-related data comparison revealed that 32.5% of girls and 8.1% of boys had at least one tooth extracted (p < 0.05). Also, 56.2% of girls and 75.7% of boys brushed their teeth twice a day. Caries complications were identified as the indication for tooth extraction in 82.8% of participants. The data analysis confirmed the correlation between gender and tooth loss as well as treatment needs. Tooth loss was correlated with oral hygiene habits and reasons for dental visits. Treatment need was also affected by the reasons for tooth extraction and the absence of adequate prosthodontics therapy (p < 0.05). Conclusion. Sociodemographic conditions significantly influenced the number of participants with extracted teeth. A prosthodontic treatment need was influenced by the reasons for tooth extraction, adolescents' knowledge about the importance of adequate treatment and previous unpleasant experience.

Adolescence represents specific period of life and development, when young person is going through physical, emotional and mental changes, risking poor general and oral health outcome that might affect quality of life. Negative effects of poor oral health are various: difficulties with speaking and eating, pain and malfunction. This might cause emotional and mental problems, leading to avoidance of speaking, smiling and socializing with friends. Cross-sectional study included 234 participants (15-16 years old). The research instruments used in the study were questionnaire and clinical examination. Questionnaire referred to socio-demographic characteristics of participants, their oral and general health related habits, self-evaluation of confidence and successfulness and effect of oral impacts on daily performances. Clinical examination was used to determine dental status in terms of tooth loss, need for prosthodontic rehabilitation and presence of dental malocclusion. Results: 24.6% (58) of adolescents had at least one tooth missing. Significant difference between the genders was obtained, as 32.5% girls had at least one tooth extracted compared to 8.1% of boys. Normative need for prosthodontic rehabilitation was present in 22.0% of subjects. Dental problems negatively affected their sleep and emotions (14.4% and 10.2% few times in period of one month). Data analyses pointed one correlation between extracted teeth and psychosocial aspect of participants' life (difficulties and embarrassment when smiling, talking and spending time with friends, emotional problems). Unmet normative need for prosthodonic or orthodontic treatment affected participants' ability to sleep and relax. Percentage of adolescents with extracted teeth was high, as well as normative treatment need for prosthodontic rehabilitation. Poor dental status affected quality of life of adolescents, especially emotional and mental well-being. Dental service should provide sufficient information to adolescents about prevention of tooth loss and consequences of teeth extraction, not only within masticatory function but also concerning oral health related quality of life.