Article Title：Dental caries experience of preschool children from the north Brisbane region
Abstract：
Background: To report the dental caries experience of preschool children within the north Brisbane region and to investigate the association between selected social and demographic variables and disease presence. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 2515 children aged four to six years was examined in a preschool setting using decayed, missing, filled teeth/surface (dmft/dmfs) and percentage caries free indices. A self-administered questionnaire obtained information regarding selected social and demographic variables. The data were analysed using the chi-square and one way analysis of variance procedures at the 5 per cent level of significance. Results: Overall, 1668 (66.3 per cent) children were disease free at the examination and mean dmft was 1.4 +/- 2.77 and dmfs was 2.28 +/- 6.00. Dental caries occurred more frequently and severely in children from non-Caucasian background (p < 0.000), family language other than English (p = 0.001) and lower socio-economic status (p < 0.000). Conclusions: Significant associations between child ethnicity, language spoken at home, socio-economic status and caries presence have been identified. Epidemiological data can be used for improved public oral health service planning and resource allocation within the region.
Keywords: dental caries; epidemiology; preschool children; social factors; demographic factors
DOI: 10.1111/j.1834-7819.2002.tb00547.x
Source：AUSTRALIAN DENTAL JOURNAL
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