OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to investigate factors related to the periodontal
health of 12-year-old
children.
METHODS:
In 2015, the Korean
Children's
Oral Health Survey from the Ministry of
Health &
Social Welfare conducted a nationwide representative sample comprised of 23,702 12-year-old
children. The
calibration-trained
dentists examined the
gingivitis and
dental calculus of the
children taking into consideration of the Löe and Silness
gingival index to
diagnose gingivitis with a modified
gingivitis scale. We used
questionnaires to collect data from the
children on dental
treatments, the experience of dental
pain and gingival
bleeding,
self-perceived
oral health, and
oral health behaviors. Data were analyzed using a complex samples
Chi-square test, general
linear model, and
logistic regression. Significance was determined at P < 0.05.
RESULTS:
The
prevalence of
gingivitis was higher among
males (OR 1.57), among
children with poor
perception (OR 1.19),
dental calculus (OR 3.68), or gingival
bleeding experience (OR 2.00), and among
children not using
dental floss (OR 1.69) or
tongue cleaner (OR 1.90). The
prevalence of
dental calculus was higher among
children with
gingivitis (OR 3.82) and among
children who had not visited a
dental clinic in the preceding year (OR 1.31). However,
dental calculus was lower among
children with a higher frequency of daily
toothbrushing (OR 0.75), intake of cariogenic
foods (OR 0.90), or a higher DMFT index (OR 0.91).
CONCLUSIONS:
Children with
dental calculus and gingival
bleeding who did not visit a
dental clinic in the preceding year also had a higher
prevalence of
gingivitis and
dental calculus. The
prevalence of
children's
dental calculus was lower among
children with a high frequency of daily
toothbrushing.