ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To find the prevalence of caries in the 12-year-old school population of the city of Barcelona. DESIGN: An epidemiological crossover survey of dental caries in a representative sample of children in Barcelona. PARTICIPANTS: 739 children in the 7th year of basic education, who were twelve years old at the moment of the examination and came from 35 schools in the city of Barcelona, were examined. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Prevalence of caries was 52% (60% in girls and 45% in boys) and the CAOD index (teeth with caries, absent because of caries or permanent teeth with fillings) was 1.37 (1.70 for girls and 1.12 for boys). 51% of the permanent teeth affected by caries had been filled. The distribution of the CAOD index showed that 23% (almost a quarter of the population studied) of 12-year old schoolchildren in Barcelona had 3 teeth or more affected by caries. In the logistical regression analysis, gender (being a girl, OR = 1.69) and the absence of a regular programme of fluoride mouthwashes (OR = 1.69) were associated with having a higher caries index (CAOD equal to or above 3). CONCLUSIONS: The results show caries indices which are generally low and a tendency to stability. The programmes of fluoride mouthwashes seem to be effective in decreasing the incidence of caries.
Subject(s)
Dental Caries/epidemiology , Urban Population , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , DMF Index , Female , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Morbidity/trends , Prevalence , Random Allocation , Sex Distribution , Socioeconomic Factors , Spain/epidemiology , Urban Population/statistics & numerical dataSubject(s)
Counseling , Mouth Diseases/prevention & control , Tooth Diseases/prevention & control , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Dental Caries/epidemiology , Dental Caries/prevention & control , Humans , Mouth Diseases/epidemiology , Risk Factors , Spain/epidemiology , Tooth Diseases/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between current dietary habits and dental caries in schoolchildren from an area of Spain on which the prevalence of caries was low. The results of an epidemiological study conducted on a random sample of 893 children from the cities of Girona and Figueres are presented. The method of dietary interview consisted of a food-frequency questionnaire. This showed a positive relationship between dental caries and consumption of ice cream, pastries, cakes, sliced bread, on the one hand, and sugar-free chewing gum and sugar-free candies, on the other. A protective effect of skimmed milk and artificial sweeteners was also observed. Results reflect the role of certain foods in caries development, but also the outcome of selective dietary counseling to high-risk children.
Subject(s)
Dental Caries/epidemiology , Feeding Behavior , Adolescent , Analysis of Variance , Chi-Square Distribution , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Dental Caries/etiology , Female , Fluorides/therapeutic use , Humans , Male , Observer Variation , Odds Ratio , Prevalence , Regression Analysis , Reproducibility of Results , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The purpose of the present study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of three alternative community programs to prevent dental caries among Catalonia's schoolchildren. The programs were: fluoridation of the public water supply, fort-nightly 0.2% NaF mouthrinses administered in schools, and supervised toothbrushing with a fluoride toothpaste in schools. Caries prevalence data for Catalan children are given and the methodology for the study is described. The estimated cost of saving 1 DMFS with each program was: 53.40 Pts (US$ 0.39) with fluoridation of the water supply; 305.20 Pts (US$ 2.26) with fluoride mouthrinses; and 1498 Pts (US$ 11.09) with supervised toothbrushing. The feasibility of the programs in Catalonia and their educational values for the target population are considered.
