Dental caries and social factors in 12-year-old South African children

Abstract – Dental caries prevalence (percentage caries-free) and experience (DMFS) were recorded, in 414 12-yr-old Indian and 401 white children living in adjacent urban communities with the same fluoride concentration in the drinking water (0.21–0.33 ppm) using WHO (11) criteria. Details of social factors: education level, family income, home space and occupants and parental occupation were obtained by questionnaire. Dental caries was significantly worse in the Indian children with regard to numbers caries-free (30%– white and 40%– Indian) and DMFS mean (sd) (3.65 (3.98) and 2.66 (3.49) working group, respectively). Social class, while or blue collar, family income and room to person ratio were significantly associated with dental caries in the white children but there were no significant associations in the Indian children. Multiple regression analysis showed race and sex to be significant factors.     

Dental caries experience and prevalence of children afraid of dental treatment

The aim of this study was to examine the clinical outcome with regard to dental caries of high self reported dental anxiety in a group of Scottish secondary schoolchildren. 1103 children participated in the study, mean age 14 yr (sd 0.35 yr), and the prevalence of high dental anxiety was 7.1% (95% CI = 5.6%, 8.6%). When these children were compared with their contemporaries their DMFT and all its components were higher but only the mean MT reached statistical significance after adjusting for gender and social class. Children with a high dental anxiety were 62% more likely to have at least 1 missing tooth due to caries. In addition this group when compared to the rest of the study population, had a significantly lower mean number of teeth fissure sealed and a lower proportion of children with sealants. No similar trend was obvious for children who had a high general fear. The dentally anxious more accurately perceived their treatment need and were more likely to defer, cancel or not turn up for dental appointments.     

Dental caries and blood groups in South African Blacks

DMFT scores were determined in series of 1) urban Black adolescents (132 boys, 143 girls) aged 16-18 yr, and 2) rural Black mothers (480) aged 20-35 yr. Each series was divided into upper and lower thirds, with respect to DMFT. No relationship was apparent between segments with good versus inferior teeth, and blood groups.     

Dental caries in South African white children aged 1–5 years

The dentitions of 499 white preschoolchildren aged 1-5 years from a low fluoride area were examined with mirror and probe. The dmft values ranged from 1.0 +/- 2.0 at 1 year of age to 5.1 +/- 4.5 at 5 years of age while the overall mean for the group was 3.7 +/- 4.1. "Rampant" caries prevalence varied according to the definition used. It is suggested that for epidemiologic studies rampant caries should be defined as a dmft value of 5 or more and that labial caries should be regarded as a specific entity.     

Patterns of tooth vulnerability to caries in South African high school pupils

Caries prevalence and distributions were studied in 761 South African high school pupils aged 17 years in four ethnic groups, living in urban (low F) and rural (low and high F) areas. Mean DMFT values were significantly higher among White pupils than all other groups. Comparison of mean DMFT among the Black pupils showed that urban Black dwellers had a significantly higher score than rural pupils when caries-free individuals were included in the analysis, but not when scores for only those with a DMFT of 1 or more were compared. No significant differences were found between the DMFT values of Black rural pupils living in high or low fluoride areas. Among Black rural pupils, dental caries was approximately three times more common in permanent second molars compared with permanent first molars. In urbanized Black, Coloured, Indian and White subjects, the molars were approximately equally affected.     

Dental caries in rural and urban black preschoolchildren

The dentitions of 439 rural and 192 urban black children aged 1-5 years were examined with mirror and probe. Dental caries was common and the percentage prevalence and dmft values were similar in children of 1-3 years in both groups. At 4 years of age there was a twofold increase in dental caries in the urban children to reach a dmft score significantly greater than that in the rural children (P less than 0.01). Labial caries was common in rural children but rare in urban children while rampant caries (dmft greater than or equal to 5) exhibited the opposite pattern.     

Contrasting patterns of caries profile and dental treatment in pupils of 16–18 years in South African ethnic groups

Abstract Investigations on caries profile and state of teeth treatment were made on 3752 high school pupils of 16–18 years, namely, rural and urban Black, Indian, Colored (Eur-African-Malay) and White pupils. Rural Blacks had a low mean DMFT of about 2, and a caries-free prevalence of 52%. Of the few with affected teeth, 10% were extracted, none filled, and 90% decayed; i.e. restorative dental attention was virtually nil. Among English and Afrikaans pupils attending Government Schools, mean DMFT was about 10, and caries-free prevalence negligible. Of affected teeth, 13% were extracted, 59% filled and 28% decayed. The situations regarding the urban Black, Indian and Colored groups were intermediate. The Jewish pupils, well-circumstanced and attending private schools, had a mean DMFT of 6.5, moreover 6% were caries-free. Of affected teeth, 1% had been extracted; 93% were filled, and only 6% remained decayed. Since it transpired that the diets of the three White subgroups, cariogenically, were much the same, the advantageous position of the Jewish pupils was judged to be due primarily to their excellent oral hygiene motivation, particularly their demonstrably regular visits to dentists.     

Assessing risk indicators for dental caries in the primary dentition

The aim of the present study was to assess indicators shown to be associated with the prevalence of caries in the primary dentition of 7-year-old Flemish schoolchildren. Cross-sectional first year data of the longitudinal Signal-Tandmobiel survey were analysed (n=4468). Gender, age, oral hygiene habits, use of fluorides, dietary habits, geographical factors and parental modelling were the considered predictors. From the multiple logistic regression analysis, including schools as a random effect, and after adjusting for the confounding variables-educational system and province (stratification variables), gender and age-it became clear that the following risk indicators remained significant (at 5% level) for the presence of caries: frequency of toothbrushing (P=0.05) with an OR 1.24 for brushing less than once a day, age at start of brushing (P<0.001) with an OR=1.22 for a delay of 1 year, regular use of fluoride supplements (P<0.001) with an OR=1.54 for no use, daily use of sugar-containing drinks between meals (P<0.001) with an OR=1.38, and number of between-meals snacks (P=0.012) with an OR=1.22 for using more than 2 between-meal snacks. There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in caries experience determined by the geographical spread, with an explicit trend of caries declining from the east to the west. In a model with an ordinal response outcome, the daily use of sugar-containing drinks between meals had a more pronounced effect when caries levels were high. From this study it became obvious that, in Flemish children, an early start of brushing and a brushing frequency of at least once a day need to be encouraged, while the use of sugar-containing drinks and snacks between meals needs to be restricted to a maximum of 2 per day. Geographical differences need to be investigated in more detail.     

颌骨牙源性囊肿袋形术/减压术引流装置的设计与临床应用

 颌骨牙源性囊肿是一组来源于与牙发生相关组织的病变，上皮衬里的囊腔包含液体或半流体。由于囊腔内的压力、骨吸收因子释放及上皮增生引起囊肿不断增大，导致颌骨膨隆、牙松动移位，面部畸形及咬合功能障碍。牙源性囊肿的袋形术/减压术是一种简单易行而有效的保守性治疗方法。成功的治疗需要术后采用不同引流装置保持囊肿引流。较大的囊肿常在术后配戴囊肿塞或阻塞器，而较小的病变则通过减压管保守引流。大多数病例是在袋形术/减压术后囊肿缩小时二期行囊肿刮除术，可减少邻近结构的损伤或手术并发症，仅少数病例中袋形术作为惟一的治疗方式。文章简要介绍了袋形术/减压术的相关治疗机制以及多种引流装置的设计与临床应用。     

儿童乳牙患龋状况及其家庭口腔健康行为的差异

目的研究家庭口腔健康行为对辽宁省城乡儿童乳牙患龋状况的影响。方法采用多阶段、分层、等容量、随机抽样的方法,运用世界卫生组织《口腔健康调查基本方法》诊断标准对辽宁省城乡792名5岁儿童进行乳牙龋病检查,并随机抽取50%受检者的家长进行问卷调查。结果1）辽宁省5岁儿童乳牙患龋率为73.86%,龋均（dmft）为4.38;其中城市儿童乳牙患龋率为64.14%,农村儿童乳牙患龋率为83.59%,城乡之间儿童乳牙患龋率具有统计学差异（P<0.01）。2）口腔健康行为分析表明,农村儿童进食糖果、巧克力、糖水、碳酸饮料、果汁等的频率高于城市。城市儿童开始刷牙时间、频率、用含氟牙膏的比例均高于农村。城市家长普遍学历高,收入多,儿童定期检查和采取预防措施的人数高于农村。结论辽宁省,尤其是农村地区应加强对家庭口腔健康行为的教育。     

Dental caries in the primary dentition: assessing prevalence of cavitated and noncavitated lesions

BACKGROUND: Dental caries in the primary dentition has received renewed attention in recent years because caries in the primary dentition is predictive of later caries experience, and because of efforts to address early childhood caries. More detailed caries diagnostic criteria have been developed and used for the permanent teeth; however, such criteria have not been widely adopted for caries diagnosis in the primary dentition. METHODS: As part of the Iowa Fluoride Study, caries diagnostic criteria were developed specifically for the primary teeth. The criteria included noncavitated (d1) lesions and cavitated (d2-3) lesions. Examinations were conducted on 698 children in the primary dentition by two trained examiners who did duplicate examinations on 11 percent (n = 67) of these children. RESULTS: Interexaminer agreement for any d1 and any d2-3 lesions at the person level was 100 percent. At the tooth level for d1d2-3f, there was 98.5 percent agreement and kappa was .91. For d1 at the tooth level, agreement was 97.0 percent agreement and kappa = .24. For d2-3 it was 99.4 percent agreement and kappa = .81. Prevalence of untreated d2-3 was 16.5 percent, while that of d1 was 24.1 percent. Nearly 73 percent had no d2-3 or filled surfaces, while over 63 percent had no d1, d2-3, or filled surfaces. Decay experience was most common on the primary second molars. About 56 percent of untreated d2-3 decay was located in the pits and fissures, while 58 percent of d1 decay was located on smooth surfaces. CONCLUSION: Despite some concern with reliability of diagnosing d1 lesions, it appears that the d1d2-3 criteria are informative and useful in assessing the primary dentition.     

Dental caries in South African Black and White high school pupils in relation to sugar intake and snack habits

Abstract DMFT scores, total sugar intakes and snack habits were determined in 1918 South African Black pupils (923 rural, 995 urban) and 724 White pupils (English and Afrikaans speaking) aged 16–18 years inclusive. Mean DMFT scores of school groups of Black pupils (both sexes) ranged from 0.9 and 2.0 in rural areas, to 4.2–6.7 in urban areas (where data were far higher than such obtained 7 years ago), and were 9.2 and 10.2 for White pupils. Corresponding mean daily sugar intakes were - rural Blacks, 69 g and 97 g, urban Blacks 118–141 g, respectively (all slightly higher than previously); and Whites 102 g and 123 g. Mean DMFT scores of girls were higher than those of boys; yet while mean sugar intakes of Black girls and boys were somewhat similar, White girls' intakes were much lower than those of White boys. In the ethnic-sex groups studied, mean DMFT scores for pupils in upper, compared with lower, third of sugar intake, were higher in nine of the 14 sub-groups. Mean DMFT scores in upper, compared with lower, third of exposure to snack practices were higher in 11 of the 14 groups. However, most of the differences were slight. In further research, more intensive enquiries should be pursued on roles of ethnic and familial factors, as well as on roles of inter-acting dietary components additional to sugar and sugar-containing foods.     

Primary dentition caries trends, 1976–1981, in four South African populations

Abstract— This paper is a comparison of cross-sectional data on dental caries in the primary dentition undertaken between 1976 and 1981 in the Transvaal Province, South Africa, on 690 rural Black, 1463 urban Black, 870 Indian and 1622 White children aged 2–5 yr. There was a decrease in percentage dental caries prevalence in the urban White children and an increase in the other three groups, the fastest rate being seen among urban Indian children. Similar trends were noted for mean dmft. Dental caries in incisor and canine teeth remained fairly static but caries in molar teeth increased in the groups of Black and Indian children and decreased in the White children. Ratios d/dmft, m/dmft and f/dmft indicated that minimal treatment was received by all the children.     

无锡市9 238名中小学生龋病情况的调查分析

目的调查无锡市9 238名中小学生的龋患率及充填率。方法采用整群抽样方法从无锡市11所中学5所小学中,每所学校每年级抽取2个班的学生,分3个年龄段对龋患率、充填率、龋均等指标作调查统计。结果无锡市中、小学生的龋患率为29.15%、充填率为19.43%、龋均为0.82。不同年龄组龋患率、充填率分别是6~12岁为36.56%、8.28%,13~15岁为23.62%、20.78%,16~18岁为28.75%、31.59%,χ2=3.98,P<0.05,χ2=6.22,P<0.01,差异有显著性,不同性别组龋患率、充填率差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论龋患率随着年龄增长逐渐下降,充填率随着年龄增长逐渐上升,龋均值可以反映该地区口腔健康整体水平。     

Dental caries and sucrose intake in five South African preschool groups

Abstract Dental caries, debris (DI-S) and sugar intake were determined for 766 rural Black, urban Black, coloured, Indian and While children, using standardized techniques. In general sucrose intake, both quantity and frequency was low in rural Black children yet these children had relatively few caries-free individuals and higher than expected mean dmft scores. Comparison with earlier studies in the same localities has shown a worsening of dental caries in all groups except the White, in which the situation has improved. Sucrose consumption declined in rural Black, and White groups, remained steady in urban Black children and increased in coloured and Indian groups.     

Dental caries prevalence in schoolchildren of Baghdad province, Iraq

Abstract The First National Oral Health Survey on caries prevalence was estimated on 1213 Iraqi primary schoolchildren aged 6–12 years from mixed socioeconomic levels, to provide a baseline data for future planning of dental services. The mean dill was 5.2±3.6 for the 6-year-olds and 11 % of the children were caries free. For the permanent teeth caries experiences were 0.6±1.0, 1.4±1.5 and 2.7±2.4 for ages 6, 9 and 12 years respectively and the rate of caries free children were 67%, 40% and 21% for the respective ages. The majority of the dift and DIMFT indices were due to decayed teeth and almost no restorations were found.     

Declining dental caries in Jerusalem schoolchildren

Abstract There has been an increase of dental caries in Israel during the last decade (1970–80), while most developed industrialized countries reported a decline in dental caries since 1970. A survey carried out on 267 first graders (6 yr old) by the same investigator and with the same methods as in the previous survey (1977), showed a significant decrease in prevalence of dental caries in 1985 as follows: 78% affected children with a caries score of 4.9 compared to 86.2% with a caries score of 5.2 in 1977     

Dental caries status of young children in a suburban community of Mexico City

One hundred and thirty-four children, 6 to 7 yr of age from a public school in Tepepan, Mexico were examined for the prevalence and severity of dental caries. Average deft score was 6.08 and defs was 12.15. Average DMFT and DMFS scores were .57 and .99 respectively. It was observed that 66% of primary teeth with carious lesions required one surface restoration and 11% three or more surface restorations. In the permanent dentition 99% of the affected teeth required one surface restoration. A comparison of the results with those of the Mexico City public school children survey (1980) showed that the Tepepan children had a similar caries level in primary teeth and a lower caries level in permanent teeth. Although the Tepepan group showed fewer carious lesions, their caries index and unmet restorative index are still high, especially for primary dentition, so an intensive educational, preventive and restorative program is required.     

Epidemiology of dental caries in 5-year-old children in Israel

The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries in the earliest age at which children were organized as a group in the national education system and to find possible associations with variables that may help to identify "groups at risk" in this population. A total of 965 children, 5 years old, were examined. They were selected by a method to form a representative sample of all West Jerusalem compulsory kindergarten classes in 1971. Caries, gingivitis and oral hygiene were assessed and demogrphic data were collected. It was found that 84% of the children were affected with mean dif value of 4.7 (+/- 3.6). Association was found between caries and social class. The high morbidity suggests that organized services should be planned for this age group. Since the resources are limited, efforts should be directed mainly towards "groups at risk".     

Dental caries experience and Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization

Abstract

Objective. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and severity of the enamel defects, known as Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) and its relationship to dental caries. Materials and methods. A sample of 1157 schoolchildren (population based), aged 6–12 years, of the Araraquara city-Brazil, was evaluated according to the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) criteria by two trained examiners. The dental impact caused by MIH was evaluated with the Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index (WHO). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Chi-square tests (p < 0.05). The socioeconomic status was collected using a questionnaire answered by parents. Results. The prevalence of MIH was 12.3%. Mild impairment was the most frequent diagnosis. DMFT of children with MIH was 0.89 (±1.18), which are higher than those of the unaffected group (0.43 ± 1.01). An association was found between dental caries only in the permanent dentition of children with MIH (p = 0.0001). Family income was considered low in 85% of the families of children with MIH in the public system, while in private school it was 18% (p < 0.05). Conclusion. The prevalence of MIH in Araraquara was associated with greater caries experience in the permanent dentition.