Related Experiment Videos
The decline in dental caries among Belgian children between 1983 and 1998
J C Carvalho1, J P Van Nieuwenhuysen, W D'Hoore
1School of Dentistry, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. joana.carvalho@padt.ucl.ac.be
Objectives:
to investigate cross-sectionally a probable dental caries decline in Belgian 12-yr-olds and to analyse some factors that may be associated with dental caries during the study period.
Methods:
In the region of Brussels, children in the 7th grade at the same schools were sampled in 1983 (n=533) and 1998 (n= 496). DMFT, DMFS and dental fluorosis were clinically recorded. Data on children's home-based and professional dental health care habits were registered.
Results:
Caries-free children increased from 4% to 50%. A reduction of the mean number of teeth attacked by dental caries from 7.5 to 1.6 and of tooth surfaces from 11.5 to 2.5 (P<0.001) was observed. Early signs of dental fluorosis were identified in 5% in 1983 and 30% of the subjects in 1998. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that tooth brushing with fluoridated toothpaste, dental appointments and dental fluorosis were significantly related to dental caries reduction.
Conclusions:
A remarkable decline in dental caries was observed during the 15-yr period. The factors related to the children's home-based and professional dental health care were associated with the observed decline.