Caries experience and dental attendance of Somali children living in a British city.

AIM: To facilitate the planning of future dental services, this study sought baseline data, relating to caries experience and dental attendance, for Somali children resident in Sheffield, UK. METHODS: A convenience sample of 4 to 14 year old Somali children was drawn from pupils attending Somali religious education classes, youth groups and selected schools in Sheffield. During 1998 and 1999, 238 Somali children were subjected to a dental examination and a structured interview. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 9.4 years with equal male and female distribution. The majority of children (58%) had been born in Somalia compared with 29% in the UK or 13% in another country. Just over half of the sample had English-speaking mothers. The mean dmft for 4 to 6 year olds was 2.12 and 50% demonstrated a past caries experience. In the 7 to 10 year old group, mean dmft was 2.05 and caries had again affected 50% of subjects. Mean DMFT for 11 to 14 year olds was 1.37 and 58% showed evidence of previous caries experience. The mother's reported ability to speak English was a strong predictor of caries experience in the group as a whole. Interestingly, an English-speaking mother was associated with low caries prevalence in young children, but with high caries prevalence in children over the age of 7 years. Finally, only 57% of subjects had seen a dentist within the previous 12 months, and almost half of these visits had been prompted because of a specific problem. CONCLUSION: It is evident that some Somali children have a high caries experience, with mother's ability to speak English being the greatest predictor of dental disease. Preventive strategies need to be developed for this population and regular dental attendance should be encouraged.

Dental health of 12-year-old children living in similar rural communities in France and England.

A survey was conducted of the dental health of 12-year-old children attending state schools in the towns of Segré (France) and Shaftesbury (England). The results showed that the Segré children had DMFT and DMFS scores double that of the Shaftesbury children. More Segré children had calculus and more were undergoing orthodontic treatment. There were no significant differences between the two schools in gingival health and oral cleanliness, but in both the French and English schools the girls had cleaner teeth than the boys.

Differences in dental caries in 5-year-old children within and between adjacent districts on the south coast of England.

Examination of the differences in caries patterns in 5-year-old children between adjacent English South Coast districts prompted a more specific study using larger samples in more discrete localities. Although the overall caries levels varied significantly between the two districts, no significant differences were found between two defined areas of social deprivation. The children in one area were predominantly of Indian or Pakistani background and in the other mainly white Caucasian and it is suggested that differences in caries experience are related to indicators of social deprivation, rather than ethnicity. Even in relatively affluent districts, where caries levels are no longer a general problem, the dental needs of vulnerable groups of children may remain unidentified within a more favourable overall picture, and thus unmet, unless specific areas are monitored closely taking into account indicators of social deprivation.

The development of a toothbrushing programme at a school for children with moderate and severe learning difficulties.

A toothbrushing programme was established in a school for children aged 3 to 19 years with moderate and severe learning difficulties. Toothbrushes were provided and the importance of using the school staff to help and encourage the children to brush their teeth on a daily basis was emphasized. The early improvement in oral cleanliness was maintained after a period of fourteen months. Analysis of the data was undertaken using the unpaired t-test for mean debris scores. Significant differences compared with the baseline scores were recorded on three occasions. The programme is continuing.