Abstract:

Oral health is considered as an important component of overall health, on the understanding that individuals constitute a biopsychosocial unit which needs a comprehensive approach to cope with the pathologies that they present.
Dental caries and periodontal diseases are the main signs of impaired oral health, followed by malocclusions and cancer. Dental practice has confirmed the frequent presence of medical conditions such as bruxism, in which anxiety disorders and stress lead to the emergence and exacerbation of such symptoms with clear oral manifestations. Oral diseases, are considered a major public health problem because of its high prevalence and incidence all over the world. They constitute a major issue for population, affecting primarily to the most socially disadvantaged and excluded people. The main oral problems found in the college students population are dental caries and periodontal disease, followed by malocclusion. They have a high impact on the comprehensive health and therefore on people’s life quality. Nevertheless, they can be easilly and economically prevented and controlled with specific and timely preventive programs, conducted by professionals trained in the dentistry field. Against this background the "Education, health and oral epidemiology Academic body" considered very important to conduct a research in which the most important oral diseases have been found, as well as their impact on the overall health of college students, who are considered as a vulnerable group, being part of the economically active population over the next 10 to 20 years in the state and country.

Objective:
To improve the overall health of college students by means of education and oral health care.

Methodology:
A descriptive and clinical-epidiological studied was carried out and the OHIP-Mx-14 (Profile Impact of Oral Health) was applied at the beginning and at the end of the research. Individual researches about the different oral health problems were carried out as well.

Results:
About the impact of oral health concerned to overall health, it was found that from 98 students the 42% were male and the other 48% were female. Oral health perceptions expressed by women were higher than men’s. In applying the second survey the results didn’t show a meaningful difference because of the short lapse of time. Nevertheless, the study as well as the implementation of prevention and intervention programs to improve health levels found on various oral diseases, continues so the surveys will be reapplied.

Conclusions:
This study has allowed the development of several lines of individual research and thesis preparation for undergraduate degree students.

Keywords:

integral health, college students, education, oral health care