Fluoridation and tooth wear in Irish adults.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of tooth wear in adults in Ireland and its relationship with water fluoridation. The National Survey of Adult Oral Health was conducted in 2000/2001. Tooth wear was determined using a partial mouth examination assessing the upper and lower anterior teeth. A total of 2456 subjects were examined. In this survey, increasing levels and severity of tooth wear were associated with ageing. Men were more affected by tooth wear and were more likely to be affected by severe tooth wear than women. It was found that age, and gender were significant predictors of tooth wear (P < 0.01). Overall, there was no significant relationship between fluoridation and tooth wear in this study.

Factors influencing the need for dental care amongst the elderly in the Republic of Ireland.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the socio-economic, demographic and behavioural determinants of dental treatment needs of those aged 65 and over in the Republic of Ireland. DESIGN: The treatment needs data is based on detailed clinical oral examinations in the NSAOH carried out between October 2000 and June 2002. To determine factors influencing treatment needs, three measures are used: a dichotomous variable expressing the need for any dental treatment, a dichotomous variable expressing the need for dentures, and a dichotomous variable expressing a Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Need (CPITN) score of three or greater representing a need for periodontal treatment. METHODS: Factors such as age, gender, dental services eligibility status, fluoridation, employment status, educational attainment, anxiety about dental visits, frequency of brushing, and attendance patterns were regressed on a dichotomous version of prevalence of Decayed Missing Filled Surfaces, DMFS including the visual component, and CPITN scores. Associations were estimated using multivariate logistic regression and expressed as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Goodness of fit was evaluated by estimating sensitivity, specificity, positive/negative predictive values and accuracy. RESULTS: Being female, smoking, frequent snacking and anxiety about dental visits increased the odds of having a periodontal treatment need. Having primary education only, and being a smoker increased the odds of having a need for any treatment including dentures, whereas being female, regular usage of dental services, and access to fully fluoridated water supplies reduced the odds. CONCLUSIONS: Socio-economic factors such as lower levels of educational attainment, demographic factors such as age and gender and not having access to fully fluoridated water supplies, and behavioural factors such as smoking, frequent snacking, anxiety about dental visits, influence above average treatment needs amongst the elderly in the Republic of Ireland.

Dental caries and enamel fluorosis among the fluoridated population in the Republic of Ireland and non fluoridated population in Northern Ireland in 2002.

BACKGROUND: An all Ireland/North South survey of Oral Health was carried out in 2001/2002. AIMS: To compare levels of dental caries and enamel fluorosis among children and adolescents in the fluoridated Republic of Ireland (RoI) with those in the non fluoridated North of Ireland (NI). METHODOLOGY: Cross sectional oral health survey of a representative, random, stratified sample of 5-, 8-, 12- and 15-year-olds in Rol and in NI (N = 19,950). WHO examination criteria with the addition of visible, non cavitated dentine caries were used for recording caries. Fluorosis was measured using Dean's Index. RESULTS: In the RoI, the mean d(3c)mft / D(3c)MFT for 5-, 8-, 12-, and 15-year-olds with full domestic water fluoridation (n = 9,975), was 1.0, 0.3, 1.1 and 2.1 respectively. The corresponding means in non fluoridated NI (n = 1,475) were 1.8, 0.3, 1.5 and 3.6 respectively. (p < 0.0001, NS, p < 0.0005 and p < 0.0001). The prevalence of enamel fluorosis has increased in RoI since 1984, 23% and 36% of 8- and 15-year olds respectively in fluoridated areas had Dean's Index scores at the questionable or greater level in 2002 compared with 6% and 5% respectively in 1984. CONCLUSIONS: In 2002 apart from 8-year-olds, caries levels were lower amongst children resident in fluoridated communities in RoI than amongst corresponding age groups in non-fluoridated NI. Caries has declined in fluoridated and non fluoridated groups in both jurisdictions since the early 1960s. In RoI fluorosis levels were higher amongst lifetime residents of fluoridated communities and have increased since 1984.

Parents' preference as to whether they would like to accompany their child when receiving dental treatment--results from a national survey.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN: parental accompaniment of children during dental treatment has always been a contentious issue. One of the factors that should be considered is the preference of the parents. The aim of this paper is to report the preference of parents of eight-year-old schoolchildren in Ireland in relation to accompanying their child during dental procedures and is part of the National Survey of Children's Dental Health in Ireland, which was conducted between October 2001 and June 2002. The survey had a cross sectional design and parents of children (average age 8.4 years) selected for dental examination were asked to complete a questionnaire. RESULTS: 3629 completed questionnaires were obtained from parents of eight-year-old children giving a response rate of 68 per cent. Sixty-seven per cent of parents expressed a preference to accompany their child during dental treatment, while nine per cent expressed a preference not to accompany their child. The sex of the child (p = 0.33) or the fact that the parents were holders of a medical card (surrogate for disadvantage) (p = 0.08) did not affect parents' preference. However, parents of a single child had a higher preference (78 per cent) for accompanying their child than did parents with greater than one child in the family unit (66 per cent) (p = 0.0009). CONCLUSION: If given the choice, the majority of parents would prefer to accompany their child when receiving dental treatment.

Dental caries and enamel fluorosis among the fluoridated and non-fluoridated populations in the Republic of Ireland in 2002.

BACKGROUND: A national survey of oral health of children and adolescents was carried out in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) in 2001/2002. AIMS: To compare the prevalence of caries between child and adolescent residents in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities in the RoI whilst controlling for disadvantage. To compare caries levels amongst disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged groups with and without water fluoridation. To report the changes in caries levels between the 1960s and 2002 in RoI. To report the changes in dental fluorosis levels between 1984 and 2002. METHODOLOGY: Cross sectional oral health survey of a representative, random, stratified sample of 17,851 5-, 8-, 12- and 15-year-old children and adolescents in RoI. WHO examination criteria with the addition of visible, non-cavitated dentine caries were used for recording caries. Fluorosis was measured using Dean's Index. RESULTS: In the RoI the mean dmft/DMFT scores for 5-, 8-, 12-, and 15-year-olds were 1.2, 0.3, 1.1 and 2.3. For those with domestic water fluoridation since birth the scores were 1.0, 0.3, 1.1 and 2.1 respectively. In non-fluoridated areas of RoI the mean dmft/DMFT scores for 5-, 8-, 12-, and 15-year-olds was 1.7, 0.3, 1.3 and 3.2, respectively. For 5-, 12- and 15-year-old age groups dental caries levels were lower amongst children with fluoridated domestic water supplies (all p<0.0001). The prevalence of dental fluorosis has increased in RoI since 1984. 23% and 36% of 8- and 15-year olds respectively in fluoridated areas had Dean's Index scores at the questionable or greater level in 2002, compared with 6% and 5% respectively in 1984. CONCLUSIONS: Caries levels are lower among children with fluoridated domestic water supplies. Decay levels are much lower in 2002 than they were in 1984 and in the 1960s. The oral health of the less well off is worse than that of the rest of the population. The prevalence of dental fluorosis is higher amongst children and adolescents with fluoridated water supplies. Comparisons with 1984 data show an increase in the prevalence of fluorosis since that time.