Relevance. The high prevalence of dental diseases worldwide and their cumulative process from an early age entail effective strategies for healthy habits promotion. Schools are recommended to include oral health education programs in the curricula to develop a positive attitude to oral hygiene among students. The aim was to review the effectiveness of implementing programs in the school curricula to reduce the dental disease level among schoolchildren.
Materials and methods. The research chose programs aimed at improving the dental health of schoolchildren. We considered educational measures on oral health protection, carried out by dentists, nurses or teachers within school programs and curative and preventive measures for schoolchildren aged 6-18 years. We searched the publications on the given topic published between 1999 and 2021 in the database e-LIBRARY.ru and  between 2016 and 2021 in the PubMed database. When selecting articles, the full-text study was compulsory to check the article conformance degree to the inclusion criteria.
Results. According to the keyword search, we found 76 publications in the database e-LIBRARY.ru. After the exclusion of duplicates and articles nonconforming to the selection criteria, the review included seven publications. Four studies revealed caries reduction, and two studies demonstrated the improvement of oral hygiene. In the PubMed database, 419 publications were found according to the keyword query. The analysis of the effectiveness of school dental programs included 12 articles. Four studies detected oral hygiene improvement, seven studies – caries reduction, and six studies – dental knowledge and skill improvement.
Conclusions. According to Russian and international studies, education without curative and preventive measures isn't effective in dental disease prevention in schoolchildren. Along with instructions and training in practical oral hygiene skills, schoolchildren should use fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride varnish application and fissure sealing are the most effective measures in risk groups.

Relevance. Dental caries is a leading dental disease in children. Aim – to study the quality of drinking water in Smolensk and its region to provide evidence for implementing dental caries preventive measures in children.
Materials and methods. We took tap water samples from ten water intake points in seven districts of Smolensk and six Smolensk regions. An accredited testing laboratory of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Smolensk Region carried out water chemical analysis. The study analyzed standard parameters of drinking water quality: pH 6.5-8.5, fluoride content 0.60-1.2 mg/l; water hardness 7.0-9.0 (Sanitary Regulations and Standards 2.1.4.1116-02). The parameter was considered normal if its 95% confidence interval was within the reference range.
Results. In Smolensk, the hydrogen ion concentration in centralized drinking water supply systems is within normal limits and amounts to 7.39 (95% CI: 7.32-7.46; р < 0,05) pH units. The mean fluoride concentration in the Smolensk water is 0.19 (95% CI: 0.14-0.23; р < 0,05) mg/l, which is below the normal range. In most Smolensk districts, water hardness is within normal limits, 8.21 mmol/l (95% CI: 7.03-9.39; р < 0,05). However, the upper limit of the confidence interval of 9.39 mg/l and the maximum of 12.0 mg/l exceed the normal range. In the Smolensk region cities, the hydrogen ion concentration is 7.2 (95% CI: 7.02-7.38; р < 0,05) pH units in the centralized drinking water supply. The fluoride concentration in the Smolensk region water is 0.45 mg/l (95% CI: 0.23-0.68; р < 0,05), which demonstrates the fluoride deficiency in water. In the Smolensk region cities, mean water hardness is 6.66 mmol/l (95% CI: 6.00-7.03; р < 0,05), which is below the normal values. However, the CI upper limit of 7.03 mmol/l and the maximum of 7.05 mmol/l are within normal limits.
Conclusions. The water of the centralized drinking water supply system in Smolensk and the Smolensk region is low in fluorides. Urgent community and individual preventive measures should be taken to expose children to fluoride.

Relevance. The effectiveness of the new remineralizing agent PRESIDENT®PROFI REM "MINERALS GEL" was assessed at different stages of clear aligner orthodontic treatment in adolescents with reduced enamel resistance.
Materials and methods. PRESIDENT®PROFI REM "MINERALS GEL" was evaluated in a one-month open, single center, non-comparative study where 20 adolescents took part (mean age 14.9 ± 1.1 years).
Results. OHI-S decreased by 24.75%, PMA and ERT reduced by 44.33% and 17.11% respectively, after one month of the orthodontic treatment with clear aligners and simultaneous use of the remineralizing gel. The pH in the mixed saliva increased from 6.97 ± 0.16 to 7.69 ± 0.11, calcium went up by 48.5%, and the total antioxidant activity decreased by 29.36% (according to the mixed saliva biochemical parameters). The OHIP-14 questionnaire revealed that the quality of life decreased in 75% of adolescent patients during the orthodontic treatment with aligners due to "communication problems". The quality of life was significantly higher during the aligner treatment with simultaneous remineralizing therapy than during the conventional treatment with fixed appliances (4.25 ± 0.86 points in the aligner group versus 7.05 ± 1.16 points – the brackets group).
Conclusions. The remineralizing gel PRESIDENT®PROFI REM "MINERALS GEL" has an anti-plaque and mineralizing effect. The quality of life is significantly higher during the clear aligner treatment with simultaneous remineralizing therapy than during the conventional treatment with fixed appliances.

Relevance. The Russian Federation state program „Healthcare system development”, approved on April 15, 2014, relies on the introduction of the specialist „Dental Hygienist” in the system of school dentistry service as the main executor of the preventive treatment program. Government resolution #1640 as of 26.12.2017, which is to be realized during 2018-2025, included the agency project „“Primary prevention of oral diseases among the population of the Russian Federation”. The realization of the oral disease prevention project (professional cleaning, fluoride  local application, permanent molar fissure sealing) is a basic program that includes necessary steps to reduce oral disease incidence rate and caries increase in schoolchildren. Administration of oral care products (fluoride varnish, sealants) immediately after tooth eruption, i.e., during formation and mineralization of the hard dental tissues, is more relevant, than the use of these products after the mineralization is complete. Aim – to assess the effectiveness of oral disease preventive measures by the analysis of the follow-up changes in the dental status of schoolchildren.
Materials and methods. 115 first-grade schoolchildren of two Novosibirsk general schools participated in the study. The schoolchildren were evenly divided into 2 groups: prevention and comparison. The parents and children of both groups were trained how to take care of the oral cavity at home. The children in both groups were examined, oral hygiene indices were determined and the teeth were treated. The preventive treatment in the first groups was administered with the following materials: fluoride varnish with innovative ingredient, tricalcium phosphate, and low fill fluoride-releasing light-cured sealant. The materials are certified and approved for use in children in the Russian Federation. The individual preventive treatment was not performed in the second group. The effectiveness of the preventive treatment was assessed by the analysis of follow-up changes in the dental status of the schoolchildren.
Results. The school preventive treatment program demonstrated a significant reduction of caries increase rate – up to 31.79% in the prevention group, which forms the basis for performance optimization of the school dental office where the priority belongs to a dental hygienist.
Conclusions. The results of the preventive treatment program with the participation of a pediatric dentist and a dental hygienist held in three Novosibirsk schools confirmed its high medical effectiveness.

Relevance. The use of light-cure sealants and flowable composites for fissure sealing in children is difficult due to the complexity of the procedure. The research aimed to study the efficiency of self-etching self-adhesive flowable composite for fissure sealing in primary molars in children.
Materials and methods. The Local Ethical Committee permission and written informed voluntary consents from the parents were obtained before the study. Non-invasive fissure sealing with self-etching self-adhesive flowable composite (Constic, DMG, Germany) was performed in 48 primary molars in 48 children aged 2-5 years (mean 41.2 ± 1.3 months). After 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, the sealant’s retention (%) and frequency (%) of occlusal caries development, and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The significance of the difference was assessed by the Student’s t-test.
Results. After 6 and 12 months, complete sealant’s retention was revealed in 75.0% (CI 61.2-85.1%) and 60.4% (CI 46.3-73.0%) molars, p > 0.05; it decreased to 27.1% (CI 16.6-41.0%) and 18.7% (CI 10.2-31.9%), p > 0.05, after 18 and 24 months. Complete loss of the sealant was noted in 8.3-18.7% cases. The first caries lesion (2.1%, CI 0.4-10.9%) on the surface with the lost sealant was revealed after 12 months, after 24 months – 4.2% (CI 1.1-14.0%).
Conclusions. In primary molars after non-invasive fissure sealing with self-etching self-adhesive flowable composite, complete loss of the sealant was from 8.3% to 18.7% after 6-24 months post-op, partial loss was from 8.3% to 31.3%. Occlusal caries was revealed in 6.3% cases after the sealant loss.

Relevance. Crossbite is a deformation of the dentoskeletal system in the horizontal (transversal) plane, and it results from a discrepancy between the width of the upper and lower dental arches in the anterior or posterior dentition.Crossbite can arise as an isolated condition, and then it is an independent de-formation of the dentoskeletal system. In some cases, a crossbite is combined with a wrong arch-to-arch relationship in the sagittal and vertical planes.The aim was to analyze the duration of the retention period in children with crossbite after the orthodontic treatment.
Materials and methods. We orthodontically treated 18 children with crossbite aged 7 to 18 years. All patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 included 14 children from 7 to 14 years old with unilateral crossbite (right-sided – 6, left-sided – 8). Group 2 included 4 children from 9 to 18 years old with bilateral crossbite. All 18 children had a buccal crossbite. All patients underwent orthodontic treatment with removable and fixed orthodontic appliances.
Results. The retention period after the orthodontic treatment of crossbite lasted 6-9 months.
Conclusions. The analysis demonstrated that the retention period after the orthodontic treatment in children with crossbite averaged 6-9 months. The design characteristics of the or-thodontic appliances did not affect the duration of the retention period in children with crossbite.

Relevance. The high prevalence of tooth decay requires investigation of its risk factors. The aim was to study tooth decay risk factors among six-year-old children according to the level of dental health (based on parents’ assessment).
Materials and methods. The research evaluated the dental health of six-year-olds and factors defining their oral health; The study surveyed 515 parents of six-year-old children from 7 kindergartens in Arkhangelsk. Pearson chi-square test assessed the differences in the frequency of tooth decay factors among six-year-old children according to the level of dental health. The accepted significance level was 0.05.
Results. The Arkhangelsk parents evaluated the dental health of their six-year-olds as relatively favourable: good (41.2%) and satisfactory (46.6%). Only 9.5% of children had poor health. Children generally had good oral hygiene skills: 86.8% liked brushing their teeth; 60.2% squeezed the optimal amount of toothpaste on the toothbrush; 56.7% brushed their teeth twice a day. The dental literacy of parents was satisfactory: 67.0% purchased toothpaste for children; 90.8% considered necessary to treat primary teeth; 69.2% replaced toothbrush every three months; 59.7% visited a pediatric dentist twice a year. The children with poor dental health had insufficient oral hygiene skills: 46.9% did not like teeth cleaning; 51.1% brushed their teeth once a day. Their diet was not healthy: 100.0% did not eat hard food; 65.3% frequently consumed sweets. The parents  of children with poor dental health had low medical literacy and poor oral hygiene: 46.9% did not know that treatment of primary teeth was necessary; 42.9% considered the treatment of primary teeth as unnecessary; 32.6% purchased whatever toothpaste. The general negative trend is to use toothpaste without fluoride (68.1%).
Conclusions. The results of the study demonstrated a significantly higher frequency of cariogenic factors in children with poor dental health.

Relevance. Deep overbite is one of the most frequent malocclusions in children and teenagers of different ages. Distal occlusion with a deep overbite is the most common (59.6-67.6% according to the literature) in early mixed dentition. Most Russian and international authors state in their research that the severity of malocclusion increases with age. The treatment of the pathology in children is relevant due to deterioration of the deep overbite with age, worsening of functional disorders.
Materials and methods. The study analyses the treatment results of a child with a deep bite using the authors’ technique.
Results. The study demonstrated the advantages of the authors’ technique. The treatment allowed achieving normal dentoalveolar heights in the posterior mandible on molar and premolar eruption, establishing the correct relationship between the upper and lower dental arches that promoted harmonious development of the child’s maxillofacial area. The treatment regulated the length and width of the upper dental arch and corrected its form. The active intrusion of the lower incisors and extrusion of the lower posterior teeth were observed during the treatment. The curve of Spee was restored, and an increased overlap reduced. Occlusal contacts of posterior teeth improved, and deep overbite decreased. The technique is easy to use and allows curing 9-12-year-old children in a short period (7-10 months).
Conclusions. The suggested technique treats deep overbite as well as creates conditions for the further harmonious development of the maxillofacial area. Thus, it can be recommended for the treatment in early mixed dentition.

Relevance. The treatment of the early signs of pathology at a younger age is more favourable than its correction at the later stage of development. Aim – to analyze the literature and demonstrate the experience of clinical application of a silicone tooth positioner in the treatment of patients with malocclusion.
Materials and methods. The study analyzed the records and clinical cases of 50 patients. The measurements on the study models were taken and patients’ photos were analyzed.
Results. The study revealed positive treatment results which confirmed the effectiveness of the “Corrector” tooth positioner in treating the malocclusion in different planes as well as retaining the tooth position.
Conclusions. Individually fit “Corrector” tooth positioner has confirmed its effectiveness and proved to be an appliance of choice for prevention, active treatment or retention stages of the orthodontic treatment.