Burden of dental caries of permanent teeth among children aged 5-14 years in Southeastern European countries, 1990-2023   

Abstract
Aim: The aim of this analysis was to assess long-term trends in the burden of caries of permanent teeth among Albanian children aged 5-14 years from 1990 to 2023 and to compare national patterns with those observed in Southeastern European (SEE) countries.
Methods: This analysis was based on secondary data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 were extracted for Albania and other SEE countries. Trends over time were assessed for the period 1990-2023, including sex-specific patterns for Albania. Relative percentage changes were calculated to assess overall temporal variation.
Results: In Albania, the overall burden of caries of permanent teeth among children aged 5-14 years declined from 29.0 in 1990 to 26.3 in 2023 (DALYs per 100,000), representing a 9.3% reduction. A modest increase was observed during the 1990s, followed by a gradual decline thereafter. Girls consistently experienced a higher burden than boys throughout the study period. Compared with neighbouring countries, Albania exhibited one of the smallest relative reductions. Across SEE region, all countries demonstrated overall declines, although with varying magnitude, with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia showing the largest reductions.
Conclusion: Despite overall improvements, the burden of dental caries in Albanian children remains substantial and displays slower progress compared with several countries in SEE region, highlighting the need for strengthened preventive strategies and equitable access to oral healthcare.

Keywords: Albania, caries, children, Global Burden of Disease (GBD), permanent teeth, oral health, Southeastern Europe.