Inequalities in dental caries experience among 6-year-old German children after the caries decline. (May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Santamaria, Ruth M.; Basner, Roger; Schüler, Elisabeth; Splieth, Christian H.
• Is Part Of: Acta odontologica Scandinavica. Volume 73:Number 4(2015)
• Page Start: 285
• Page End: 291
• Publication Date: 2014-05
• Subjects: Dentistry -- Periodicals; 617.6005
• DOI: 10.3109/00016357.2014.939711
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-6357

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold> <italic>Objective.</italic> </bold> As in many other countries, caries decline in Germany has left pockets of persisting caries prevalence. This study aims to assess the benefit of a 10-year community-based prophylaxis program, focused on regular toothbrushing with fluoridated toothpastes or gels and involving institutions noted as having the highest caries levels. <bold><italic>Materials and methods.</italic></bold> The caries data (d<sub>3</sub>mft/D<sub>3</sub>MFT) was extracted from the results of the compulsory school entry examinations in Greifswald/Germany (2003/2004–2012/2013) involving ∼ 280 6–7-year-olds each year. Data from schools that include children with the highest caries levels and coming from low-SES families were analyzed independently and used for comparisons. Additionally, caries trends from Greifswald were compared to data from representative national surveys (2004–2009). <bold><italic>Results.</italic></bold> Data from 2871 children were available for analysis. The baseline d<sub>3</sub>mft value (2003/2004) was 3.2 ± 3.8; the d<sub>3</sub>-component corresponded to 70% of the index. The latest caries data (2012/2013) showed a strong reduction (43.8%) in caries prevalence (d<sub>3</sub>mft = 1.8 ± 2.5). Similarly, the SiC-Index declined significantly from 2003/2004 (7.9 ± 2.3) to 2012/2013 (4.8 ± 2.3; <italic>p</italic> < 0.001). Nevertheless, in all analyzed years the d<sub>3</sub>mft values and the SiC-Index were significantly higher in the institutions that included children coming from lower-SES families (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05). The amount of caries reduction between 2004 and 2009 corresponded to 38% in Greifswald as compared to 13% in Germany. <bold><italic>Conclusions.</italic></bold> This strategy involving a combination of regular toothbrushing and fluoride application has achieved an overall substantial caries reduction, thereby indicating that caries-control strategies for heterogeneous risk groups can be highly successful as setting approach. However, activities targeting high risk groups still need to be strengthened.</p> </abstract>