Dental general anaesthetic trends among Australian children

Background  

Children receive dental general anaesthetic (DGA) care when standard dental treatment is not possible. Receipt of DGA care is resource-intensive and not without risk. This study examines trends in receipt of DGA care among Australian children.     

Dental caries in 6-12-year-old indigenous and non-indigenous schoolchildren in the Amazon basin of Ecuador

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the caries experience among 6-12-year-old indigenous (Naporunas) and non-indigenous (recent settlers of mixed ethnic origin) schoolchildren, living in the Amazon basin of Ecuador. Cross-sectional data were obtained from 1,449 clinical exams according to the World Health Organization criteria. Nine (7.6%) indigenous and 3 (4.5%) non-indigenous children had no caries experience in their primary dentition at the age of 6. The mean dmft value (SD) among indigenous and non-indigenous children aged 6 was 6.40 (3.36) and 8.36 (3.93), respectively. Sixty-four (54.2%) indigenous and 29 (43.3%) non-indigenous children had no caries experience in their permanent first molars at the age of 6. Only 7 (6.26%) indigenous and 2 (2.60%) non-indigenous children were caries-free at the age of 12. The mean DMFT values (SD) for 12-year-olds were 4.47 (2.85) among indigenous and 5.25 (2.89) among non-indigenous children. Fillings were almost non existent. Caries rates were high among both groups, with untreated carious lesions predominating in all ages. The data of indigenous children suggest adoption of a non-traditional diet. An appropriate oral health response based primarily on prevention and health promotion is needed.     

Dental caries risk indicators among Australian Aboriginal young adults

Jamieson LM, Roberts‐Thomson KF, Sayers SM. Dental caries risk indicators among Australian Aboriginal young adults. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2010; 38: 213–221. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Objectives: To determine dental caries risk indicators among a birth cohort of Australian Aboriginal young adults (n = 442). Methods: Data were from the Aboriginal Birth Cohort study, a prospective longitudinal investigation of Aboriginal individuals born 1987–1990 at an Australian regional hospital. Models representing demographic, socioeconomic, behavioural, dental service utilization and clinical oral health variables were tested using multivariate regression. Results: The percent DT > 0 was 72.9 (95% CI 68.7–77.1), mean DT was 4.19 (95% CI 3.8–4.6), percent DMFT > 0 was 77.4 (95% CI 73.5–81.3) and mean DMFT was 4.84 (95% CI 4.4–5.3). After controlling for other covariates, risk indicators for percent DT > 0 included soft drink consumption every day or a few times a week (PR 1.25, 95% CI 1.08–1.45), not consuming milk every day or a few times a week (PR 1.16, 95% CI 1.04–1.30) and sweet consumption every day or a few times a week (PR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04–1.33). Risk indicators for mean DT included sweet consumption every day or a few times a week (B = 1.14, 95% CI 0.27–2.02), nonownership of a toothbrush (B = 0.91, 95% CI 0.10–1.87) and presence of plaque (B = 2.46, 95% CI 0.96–3.96). Those with 4 + occupants in their house the previous night had 1.2 times the prevalence of having DMFT > 0 than their counterparts with less household occupants (95% CI 1.01–1.49). Percent DMFT > 0 was also associated with consumption of soft drink every day or a few times a week (PR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04–1.34) and consumption of sweets every day or a few times a week (PR 1.23, 95% CI 1.10–1.37). Mean DMFT was higher among those who consumed sweets every day or a few times a week (B = 0.13, 95% CI 0.05–0.22) and who had dental anxiety (B = 0.10, 95% CI 0.01–0.19). Conclusions: In an Australian Aboriginal young adult cohort, risk indicators for dental caries included social determinants such as household size, dietary behaviours such as regular consumption of soft drink and sweets, dental behaviour such as nonownership of a toothbrush and dental anxiety.     

Dental caries trends in primary teeth among third-grade children in Harris County, Texas

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess trends in dental caries in the primary dentition of third-grade children in suburban Harris County, Texas. METHODS: The study populations for the 2 cross-sectional surveys consisted of 1,584 third-grade children in 1991 and 1,039 in 1998. Trained dentists collected data on decayed and filled tooth surfaces (dfs). Chi-square tests analyzed the differences in proportions of children with and without dental caries experience in 1991 and 1998 by demographic subgroups: (1) gender; (2) ethnicity; and (3) socioeconomic status (SES). Student's t test investigated the differences in mean dfs scores in subgroups. RESULTS: The prevalence of caries decreased significantly from 59% to 54% between 1991 and 1998 (P = .01). The caries prevalence was lower in 1998 than 1991 in certain subgroups: 1) females; 2) Caucasians; and 3) low SES. The mean dfs score decreased significantly from 4.81 to 3.16, and lower dfs scores were seen in certain demographic subgroups between the 2 studies (P < .05). Children from a low SES had high levels of untreated caries in both studies. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a decline in primary teeth caries of study participants, intergroup disparities exist, emphasizing the need for preventive strategies, especially for the low SES children.     

Dental caries trends in Africa

OBJECTIVES: To determine trends in published dental caries rates in Africa. METHODS: A systematic review of published information 1967-1997 was done on-line with the key words dental caries and the name of each of the 35 countries in sub-Saharan mainland Africa. For inclusion in the analysis WHO methods had to have been used for 5- to 6-, 11- to 13-, 14- to 15- and 35- to 44-year-old indigenous Africans. RESULTS: Of 327 papers published in the study period 69 were proper epidemiological studies and 45 fulfilled inclusion criteria. The groupings of caries prevalence and severity were evaluated. In two, significant declines in caries severity were seen for 5- to 6- and 35- to 44-year-olds. Of the remaining eight groupings there were non-significant decreases in five and increases in three. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed a predominantly downward trend in dental caries which was statistically significant for DMFT at age 5 to 6 years and for DMFT at 35 to 44 years.     

Dental caries among children in institutions for orphans

Epidemiological studies show that the level of dental care for children-orphans in institutions inadequate. Dominated by untreated and remote carious permanent teeth. If the traditional dental treatment difficult to implement need to develop special programs for the prevention of dental caries.     

Dental caries and fluorosis among children in a rural Georgia area

PURPOSE: This IRB-approved study compared the caries experience, fluorosis prevalence, and plaque and salivary fluoride concentrations ([F]) in middle school (MS; N = 51) and elementary school (ES; N = 144) children residing in nonfluoridated and fluoridated communities in rural Georgia. All participants were exposed to fluoridated water at school (0.5-1.2 ppm), some received that level at home, and others received home water with < 0.1 ppm F. METHODS: Subjects' parents completed a questionnaire regarding fluoride exposure. Children were examined at school by two calibrated dentists. RESULTS: No significant differences were seen in DMFS+dfs between children with or without fluoridated home water, nor for those with or without fluorosis. MS children with non-fluoridated home water had lower mean salivary [F] values than MS children with fluoridated home water. No differences were found among MS and ES children in mean plaque [F] for those with or without fluorosis. CONCLUSIONS: Home water fluoridation had little effect on the variables measured. These findings appear to be due to fluoride exposure from fluoridated dentifrices, fluoridated drinking water at school, and the fluoride "halo" effect.     

四川省部分12岁儿童恒牙龋病及其相关因素分析

目的 调查四川省部分12岁儿童患龋情况,监测龋病的发展趋势,为四川省口腔卫生保健规划与决策提供信息与依据.方法 采用多阶段、分层、随机抽样的方法进行调查,在四川省3个城市、3个农村随机抽样选取调查点,共调查768名12岁儿童的患龋情况,通过问卷了解其口腔健康知识态度行为等相关因素.结果 四川省12岁儿童恒牙患龋率达到4...     

Dental caries experience among kindergarten school going children of,India

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of dental caries in the primary dentition of kindergarten school children of Udaipur city Rajasthan in a cross sectional study design.Materials and methodsStudy population comprised of around 355 children aged 3–6 years old randomly selected from 10 kindergarten schools in Udaipur city from all preselected five zones. Dental caries was recorded using the decayed, missing, filled teeth [dmf-t] index and the decayed, missing, filled surfaces [dmf-s] index according to WHO 1997 standards.ResultsSeventy-nine point one five percent are caries free individuals while 20.85% are individuals having caries. The mean dt scores for the age group six is found to be highest with 0.45 (0.86) and least for the age group of four with 0.28 (0.74). Sixty-five point six three percent of the subjects brushed their teeth by themselves while 34.37% do it with the help of their mothers.ConclusionDental caries prevalence and severity is low among the students.     

Dental caries prevalence among preschool children of Hubli: Dharwad city

The prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs in the age group of 3-5 years was estimated among 1500 children of Hubli-Dharwad city. The attitude of mothers towards their children's oral health and its relation with caries prevalence was noted among 200 subjects. The prevalence of dental caries was 54.1%. The attitude of mothers towards children's oral health made a statistical difference in the mean dmft levels.