Oral diseases and socio-demographic factors in adolescents living in Maasai population areas of Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Oral diseases may cause serious health problems, especially in socially disadvantaged populations and in low-income countries. In populations living in the rural areas of Tanzania there is paucity of reports on oral health. The study aim was to estimate the prevalence, severity and socio-demographic distribution of oral diseases/conditions in adolescents living in Maasai population areas of Tanzania and to compare oral diseases/conditions between Maasai and non-Maasai ethnic groups. METHODS: A total of 23 schools were randomly selected from 66 rural public primary schools in Monduli and Longido districts, Tanzania. All pupils in the selected classes, 6th grade, were invited to participate in the study. A total of 989 were invited and 906 (91.6%) accepted the invitation and completed an interview and a clinical oral examination. RESULTS: Out of 906 study participants (age range 12-17 years), 721(79.6%) were from Maasai and 185 (20.4%) from non-Maasai ethnic groups. Prevalence of poor oral hygiene, gingival bleeding, dental caries experience (DMFT> 0), dental fluorosis TF grade 5-9, dental erosion (into dentin), tooth wear (into dentin) and TMD was 65.6, 40.9, 8.8, 48.6, 1.9, 16.5 and 11.8%, respectively. Multiple variable logistic regression analysis revealed that, girls (OR = 2.0) and participants from Longido (OR = 2.6) were more likely to present with good oral hygiene (p < 0.05). Adolescents from Monduli (OR = 1.7), males (OR = 2.1), being born within Arusha region (OR = 1.9) and Maasai (OR = 1.7) were more likely to present with gingival bleeding (p < 0.05). DMFT> 0 increased by age (OR = 2.0) and was associated with non-Maasai ethnic group (OR = 2.2), (p < 0.05). Adolescents from Monduli district (OR = 10.0) and those born in Arusha region (OR = 3.2) were more likely to present with dental fluorosis (p < 0.05). Dental erosion was more common among non-Maasais (OR = 2.0) as well as having mother with high education (OR = 2.3), (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Oral diseases like dental caries and dental erosion were less common, but gingival bleeding, dental fluorosis, tooth wear and TMD were common findings in adolescents attending primary schools in the Maasai population areas of Tanzania. Notable differences between Maasai and non-Maasai ethnic groups and certain correlations to sociodemographic factors were detected. Our findings can be utilized by policy makers in the planning of oral health programs in public primary schools of Maasai population areas of Tanzania.

Subgingival calculus: where are we now? A comparative review.

OBJECTIVE: To critically analyse the formation, composition, ethnic variations and pathogenic potential of subgingival calculus in comparison with supragingival calculus. DATA SOURCES: Using CD-ROM and index medicus, scientific papers relating to subgingival calculus or subgingival and supragingival calculus written in the English language since 1960 were considered, with the emphasis on more recent articles. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were selected for their relevance and contemporary nature re:composition and formation of dental calculus and comparisons of ethnic groups with regard to dental calculus, especially subgingival calculus. Some similar studies were not included. DATA EXTRACTION: Abstracts of studies were kept brief unless particularly important to the review. Population, methodology, statistics and accurate conclusions were used as important guides to the quality and validity of studies. DATA SYNTHESIS: Similarities and differences between supragingival and subgingival calculus in composition and formation were shown. Different morphological types of subgingival calculus were demonstrated. There was evidence for an association between calculus formation and ethnicity with regard to supragingival and subgingival calculus, and an association between subgingival calculus composition and ethnicity was indicated. CONCLUSIONS: An association between ethnicity and subgingival calculus formation and composition was found. Further research into the reasons for these ethnic differences in dental calculus and the role of the mineral constituents especially of subgingival calculus would be valuable.

A comparison between dental caries, gingival health and dental service usage in Bangladeshi and white Caucasian children aged 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 years residing in an inner city area of London, UK.

437 school children in the age groups 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 years participated in this study. They were from a highly disadvantaged area in Tower Hamlets, an inner district of London which has a large, newly-arrived, easily-identifiable and homogenous Bangladeshi population. Comparisons of the service utilisation between the Bangladeshi and the white groups showed that 30 per cent of the former children had never been to the dentist, as opposed to 4 per cent of the latter. The caries experience of the Bangladeshi 15-year-old age group was found to be much lower, with a DMF of 1.56, than the white group at 3.39. The gingival condition of the Bangladeshi group was poorer than the white group. Studies relating dental health to ethnic groups may no longer be relevant once the different ethnic groups are not clearly identifiable.