Abstract

Background: Oral health reflects broader community well-being and the effectiveness of health systems. In Bosnia andHerzegovina, public dental services operate within resource-constrained, decentralized structures, raising concerns aboutcare quali. ented, further exacerbating oral health challenges in the country. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted on aggregated data covering adult and pediatric dental treatments, including preventive, restorative, surgical orthodontic and prosthetic treatments. Results: The data reveal a dominant extraction-based treatment paradigm. Out of 64,317 total dental treatments, 34,458 (53%) extractions were performed compared to 11,196 fillings (17%) reflecting a ratio of slightly over 3:1. Conclusion: The public dental health system in Zenica-Doboj Canton prioritizes reactive, surgical treatment over prevention and restoration, resulting in economic inefficiency and adverse health outcomes. Policy reforms focused on prevention, public education, and resource investment are urgently needed.

Key words: schizophrenia, PANSS, QOLS , gender differences.