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Dental caries experience in a Connecticut Head Start program in 1991 and 1999
J M Douglass1, M J Montero, E A Thibodeau
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Farmington, USA. douglass@nso.uchc.edu
Pediatric Dentistry
|September 6, 2002
Summary
Dental caries prevalence decreased in Head Start children from 1991 to 1999, but those with cavities experienced more severe disease. Early childhood caries (ECC) requires ongoing monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health
Background:
- Global trends show declining dental caries in children over 50 years.
- Recent data suggest a potential reversal of this trend, particularly in young children.
- Head Start programs serve low-income children, a population often at higher risk for dental caries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare dental caries levels and patterns in 3- and 4-year-old Head Start children between 1991 and 1999.
- To assess changes in caries prevalence, severity, and treatment over an 8-year period.
Main Methods:
- Clinical dental caries data collected from 517 children in 1999 and 311 children in 1991.
- Study population: 3- and 4-year-old children in the Hartford, Conn, Head Start program.
- Radiographs were not used in either sample.
Main Results:
- Mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) score decreased from 1.68 in 1991 to 1.49 in 1999.
- Caries prevalence dropped from 49% in 1991 to 38% in 1999.
- Children with caries in 1999 showed greater severity and higher rates of treatment, especially for maxillary anterior lesions, compared to 1991.
Conclusions:
- Overall dental caries prevalence decreased in this Head Start population.
- Despite lower prevalence, children with caries experienced increased severity.
- Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions for early childhood caries (ECC).
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