Justification of the need to introduce participatory approaches to preserving dental health among foreign students in Russia

INTRODUCTION. The transcultural adaptation of international students is accompanied by integration difficulties, including reduced access to dental care. Differences in cultural attitudes, levels of oral-hygiene literacy, and stress associated with adapting to a new environment may decrease dental service utilization and negatively affect oral health status. Previous studies have indicated an unfavorable trend in oral health among international students in Russia; however, the factors influencing accessibility of care and the behavioral characteristics of this group remain insufficiently explored.

AIM. To identify risk factors for dental diseases, behavioral patterns, and barriers to seeking dental care among international students, and to justify the need for participatory preventive approaches.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 29 international students of the Pirogov University. A dental examination was performed to assess oral hygiene, caries experience, and periodontal condition. Additionally, questionnaires were administered to collect information on oral-hygiene practices, utilization of dental services, stress level, and dental anxiety. Statistical processing included correlation analysis and non-parametric methods. Participation was voluntary, and informed consent was obtained.

RESULTS. Sixty-eight percent of students had not visited a dentist during their stay in Russia. Mean oralhygiene scores corresponded to an unsatisfactory level, and caries experience was high (DMFT = 11.2 ± 4.3). Students who visited a dentist demonstrated a lower DMFT score (p = 0.0332). More than half of the respondents reported stress; dentophobia was identified in 17.2%, and all students in this subgroup demonstrated a decompensated form of caries.

CONCLUSIONS. The observed high prevalence of dental disease combined with low utilization of dental services confirms the need for participatory preventive programs tailored to the ethnocultural and psycho-emotional characteristics of international students. Large-scale studies are required to evaluate the effectiveness of such strategies.

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