Oral health status survey for Air Force flying cadets

LI Fang; TIAN Tian; WANG Lei; TUO Meng-meng; CHEN Xi; LEI Fei-fei; SHA Xin-jia; LIN Yuan

doi:10.15956/j.cnki.chin.j.conserv.dent.2025.02.007

Abstract：AIM:To investigate the oral health status and oral health behavior of military flight cadets and to provide intervention protocol for their oral health behaviors.METHODS:A total of 102 military flight cadets were recruited with a cluster sampling method.Oral health examination and a questionnaire survey on oral health behaviors were conducted.RESULTS:The prevalence of dental caries in 102 flight cadets was 42.2%,and the caries prevalence was 0.84.The detection rate of calculus on the lingual side of mandibular anterior teeth and maxillary molars was 64.7%.The detection rate of gingival bleeding was 11%,but no periodontal pockets were detected.The incidence of impacted mandibular third molar was 44.1%.Oral health behaviors:70.59%of the recruits brush teeth twice a day.Most of them(83.33%)brush one to three minutes.57.84%use dental floss,but only 18.63%use it every day.Gingival bleeding and oral ulcers are their common concerns,but 70.37%of the study group has no oral treatment within one year.The study group is aware of the importance of oral health.The most wanted knowledge is brushing method(53.7%),treatment of oral odor(42.6%)and flossing method(27.8%).CONCLUSION:The prevalence of caries among the flight cadets of a certain air force unit is low,the rate of mandibular third molar impaction is high,and the oral health awareness and behavior are at a high level in the population.They are highly aware of the importance of oral health but lack of the knowledge of the correct oral hygiene methods.It is necessary to strengthen oral health education and provide guide on oral hygiene concepts and behaviors,which may consequently improve the oral health level of Air Force flight personnel.