School-Based Oral Hygiene Education Program Has Long-Term Positive Effects on Oral Health Indicators.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: Long-term effectiveness of school-based children oral hygiene program on oral health after 10-year follow-up. Lai H, Fann JC-Y, Yen AM-F, Chen L-S, Lai M-H, Chiu SY-H. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2016;44(3):209-15. SOURCE OF FUNDING: Information not available TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Prospective cohort design.

Trends in caries experience and associated contextual factors among indigenous children.

OBJECTIVE: To assess dental caries trends in indigenous children in South Australia, 2001-2010; and contribution by area-level socioeconomic status (SES), remoteness and water fluoridation status. METHODS: This study is a part of the Child Dental Health Survey (CDHS) is an ongoing national surveillance survey in Australia including children enrolled in the School Dental Services (SDS). Postcode-level adjusted mean deciduous and permanent caries experience was estimated at each year. Time trend of dental caries experience was estimated using mixed effect models. Area-level socioeconomic status, remoteness, water fluoridation status were independent variables in the models. RESULTS: There was a significant upward trend of dental caries experience over the 10 years. Dental caries experience of indigenous children living in low SES areas had nearly one more deciduous tooth and a half permanent tooth with caries than indigenous children living in higher SES areas. The remote postcodes showed higher levels of decay in deciduous dentition (+1.25 teeth) compared with others regions. CONCLUSIONS: The dental caries trend increased in South Australian indigenous children over the study period, and was associated with area-level SES and remoteness. IMPLICATION: The increasing trend in dental caries in indigenous children is important evidence to inform policies to improve oral health.

A longitudinal study of the relative importance of factors related to use of dental services among young adults.

BACKGROUND: The decline in the appropriate use of dental services from childhood to adulthood is of concern. The relative importance of factors influencing use of dental services in young adulthood should inform strategies to address this issue. AIM: To develop models predictive of inadequate utilisation of dental care in young adults and to determine the relative importance of health behaviours, need for dental care, and socio-demographic factors. Inadequate utilisation of dental care was determined as lack of visit for dental care during the study period and as problem-based care-seeking behavior. METHODS: A random sample of Adelaide young adults was selected from the electoral roll. Participants were interviewed and offered a dental examination at baseline. Two and a half years later participants were contacted again and interviewed on the use of dental services and usual reason for visiting and a number of explanatory factors. The population attributable fractions for the explanatory variables which were significant in the model for this cohort of young adults were calculated using the log-binomial method. RESULTS: There were 819 participants at follow-up a response rate of 65% of baseline participants. In the two and a half year period between baseline and follow-up about one quarter of young adults did not make a dental visit and over one third reported that they usually made a dental visit for a problem. The attributable fraction calculation indicated that 30% of infrequent visiting was attributed to reporting no need for dental care, 17% to difficulty paying a $100 dental bill, 17% to being male and 10% to smoking. The attributable fraction calculation indicated that 27% of usually visiting for a problem was attributed to having no tertiary education, 23% to not having dental insurance, 14% to being male, 12% to smoking, 10% to avoiding dental care due to cost and 5% to use of the public sector. CONCLUSION: Need and affordability factors were more important than general health behavior factors in influencing use of dental care by a cohort of young adults.