The aim of this study was to assess the caries experience of Hungarian police students and to evaluate its relationship with nutrition, oral hygiene habits, behavioural and social factors. This representative cross-sectional epidemiological survey was conducted in a dental office of the Miskolc Law Enforcement Secondary School in Hungary in 2008. Altogether 792 Hungarian police student volunteers (male/female ratio was 90.3/9.7%, age: 20.4 ± 1.3 years, mean ± SD) participated in the study. Caries experience was measured using World Health Organization criteria and a validated questionnaire was used to collect social and oral health behaviour data. The DMFT number was 10.3 ± 5.7 (mean ± SD). Significant relationships were found between the DMFT value and the education of fathers, frequency of dental attendance, and use of dental floss (p < 0.05). D and T components of caries prevalence showed significant relationships with the frequency of dental attendance, while from the components the FT value showed statistically significant relationships with the education of fathers and the MT component with the use of dental floss (p < 0.05). Based on the results of this survey, strategies aiming at effective caries-preventive programmes should be established in police student populations ensuring the official basic requirements on their health condition and suitability for subsequent service. The published information can be used as a base for new strategies, and allows the evaluation of the effects of a carefully planned and implemented health care system.

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Objective In the present research, we aim to highlight the urgent need for prevention and health education by exploring the oral health indicators of the most deprived groups in Northern Hungary, especially in the light of the severely negative effects (pandemic) and circumstances of the past years. Material and Method The study included 111 students living in Borsod-Abaúj Zemplén county with a high level of disadvantage, but studying in a secondary school in a large city, average age 16.2±1.5 years, gender ratio 37.3/62.7(%).We performed a dental screening, completed a questionnaire on lifestyle and health behaviour, and used Rosenberg Self-Assessment Scale, Shame Experience Scale. Results Dental status of the students is poor, with many decay and few filled teeth. They consumed energy drink, alcoholic drink (strong alcohol) in high percent, and this occurs great frequency in the family. Students exercise little outside of class, do not play sports regularly, and hardly ever see their parents playing sports. Students do little physical activity outside of school, do not play sport regularly and their parents are hardly ever seen playing sport. Their feelings of shame are minimal and their self-esteem low, many have special educational needs. Conclusion Together, the results can increase the separation of these social groups to an extent that is already difficult to manage even at the level of society as a whole. All of this calls for cooperation between psychopedagogues, special education teachers and health professionals.

AbstractOne of the territories of dental psychosomatics is the link between personality characterisctics and dental status. The aim of the present study was to survey the relationship between temperament and character factors and dental status in police students. It can be hypothesized, that some temperament factors can increase the risk for dental health problems. After dental screening 792 police students completed the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) devised by Cloninger. 57.5% of students rated their own teeth as being in good or very good condition, and only 2.8% as bad condition. In persons rating their dental status as “good”, the average DMFT was 9.23±5.01 (mean±S.D.). In students assessing their own oral health as bad, TCI results showed that a higher percentage of students displayed extravagance, impulsiveness, disorderliness than the overall population. Among the students with good self-assessment but bad teeth, there was a higher percentage of students displaying passivity, low assertiveness, and introversion. The temperament and character factors may have negative consequences for students in an institution which exposes them to high stress level. It may be useful to screen these students using subjective health questionnaires in order to permit more effective efforts to positive health behaviour.

The inadequate social integration of young people from disadvantaged regions is compounded by poor health and lifestyle, which manifests itself as mechanisms of educational disadvantage. Pupils have less access to the resources they need to develop their skills in their home environment, which should be adapted to their specific educational needs with specialized teachers. In this segment of the population, the time spent on health was inadequate even before online education was introduced due to the pandemic. The segregation has worsened their situation, and the lack of digital tools has not reduced the gap. We aimed to explore the lifestyles of primary school pupils in disadvantaged regions to extend the research to pupils with special educational needs and to understand their health behavior through dental status and time spent on oral health, which determines their life chances. The study was conducted in three primary schools in disadvantaged regions in the Abaúj region, Hungary, and 318 pupils (mean age: 10.5±2.5 years) underwent dental screening and survey examinations. The questionnaire focused on nutrition, physical activity, family microenvironment, health behavior, and educational processes during the pandemic. The majority of the students live in large families. Most students visit the dentist only when they have a toothache; 21.6% do not exercise outside school; 19.1% have already consumed alcohol. Their DMFT average is 5.6±3.5. Also, 32.7% of the students had a device for online education. A firm increase in the level of preventive activities in minority schools, with the involvement of special education teachers, is crucial for social inclusion and health.