Is there an Appalachian disparity in dental caries in Pennsylvania schoolchildren?. Issue 1 (3rd December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Polk, Deborah E.; Kim, Sunghee; Manz, Michael; Weyant, Robert J.
• Is Part Of: Community dentistry and oral epidemiology. Volume 43:Issue 1(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 24
• Page End: 32
• Publication Date: 2014-12-03
• Subjects: Dental public health -- Periodicals; 617.6
• DOI: 10.1111/cdoe.12135
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-5661

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="cdoe12135-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="cdoe12135-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To determine whether there is an Appalachian disparity in caries prevalence or extent in children living in Pennsylvania.</p> </sec> <sec id="cdoe12135-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>We conducted a cross‐sectional clinical assessment of caries in a sample representing 1st, 3rd, 9th, and 11th grade students across Pennsylvania. We used logistic regression and zero‐inflated negative binomial regression controlling for age to examine the association of residence in an Appalachian county with caries prevalence and extent in the primary and permanent dentitions.</p> </sec> <sec id="cdoe12135-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Compared with children living outside Appalachia, more children living in Appalachia had a dft >0 (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.07–1.76) and more had a DMFT >0 (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.06–1.64). In addition, compared with children living outside Appalachia, children living in Appalachia had a greater primary but not permanent caries extent (IRR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.01–1.19).</p> </sec> <sec id="cdoe12135-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>We found Appalachian disparities in caries prevalence in both the primary and permanent dentitions and an Appalachian disparity in caries extent in the primary dentition. None of the disparities was moderated by age. This suggests that the search for the mechanism or mechanisms for the Appalachian disparities should focus on differential exposures to risk factors occurring prior to and at the start of elementary school.</p> </sec> </abstract>