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Prevalence of caries in urban Australian aborigines aged 1-3.5 years
W K Seow1, A Amaratunge, R Sim
1Pediatric Dentistry, University of Queensland.
Insights
Early childhood caries is prevalent in young Australian Aboriginal infants. High plaque, Streptococcus mutans, and sugary drinks are linked to increased decay, necessitating urgent preventive measures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health
- Indigenous Health
Background:
- Dental caries poses a significant health burden globally.
- Understanding caries etiology in vulnerable populations is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of dental caries in Australian Aboriginal children aged 1 to 3.5 years.
- To identify etiological factors contributing to caries in this demographic.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 147 healthy infants aged 1 to 3.5 years.
- Participants were randomly selected from a community health center in Brisbane, a non-fluoridated area.
Main Results:
- Caries prevalence was 39% by subjects and 32% by teeth.
- Mean decayed, filled teeth (dtf) was 2.5, more than double the Australian average for 3-year-olds.
- High caries experience correlated with high plaque scores, Streptococcus mutans, and sugary milk consumption during sleep.
Conclusions:
- Urban Australian Aboriginal infants exhibit a high risk for dental caries.
- Urgent implementation of preventive strategies is essential to mitigate this public health issue.
Purpose:
This study investigated the prevalence and etiological factors associated with caries in a group of young Australian aboriginal children from 1 to 3.5 years of age.
Methods:
One hundred and forty-seven healthy infants, aged from 1 to 3.5 years, attending a community health center in Brisbane, a nonfluoridated state capital city, were randomly selected for the study.
Results:
The caries prevalence was 39% by subjects and 32% by the total number of teeth present. The mean number of decayed, filled teeth (dtf) was 2.5 +/- 0.4, which is more than twice the figure for 3-year-old children in Australia. Furthermore, the filled (f) component represented only 1% of the total dft, suggesting very low treatment levels. Increased caries experience of the infants was strongly associated with high dental plaque scores, high levels of Streptococcus mutans infection, and sleep-time consumption of milk containing added sugar.
Conclusion:
The results suggest that urban Australian aboriginal infants are at high risk for caries, and that preventive strategies are urgently required.