Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026

Impact of Common Fruit Juices and Toothbrushing on the Discoloration of Primary Teeth
Published on: March 27, 2026
Caries prevalence and severity in urban Fijian school children
L M Jamieson1, W M Thomson, R McGee
1Department of Oral Sciences, University of Otago School of Medicine, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Objectives:
To determine the prevalence and severity of dental caries in a sample of urban Fijian school children.
Design:
Cross-sectional.
Sample And Methods:
Children aged between 6 and 8 years who attended one of four primary schools in different localities of Suva completed self-report questionnaires and were examined for dental caries.
Results:
A total of 704 children (response rate = 72.4%) returned questionnaires and were examined dentally. The prevalence of dental caries in the primary dentition was 87.6% and in the permanent dentition, 46.7%. The mean dfs and mean DFS were 8.43 (SD 7.82) and 2.38 (SD 1.37), respectively. High caries prevalence and severity were associated with infrequent brushing, snacking on sugar-containing foods, having seen a dentist before, and having last visited a dentist because of pain.
Conclusions:
The caries prevalence of the sample was comparable with findings from a national oral health survey conducted in 1985/86, but the caries severity was greater. As in other developing countries, this may be due to an increased availability of refined sugar products without a concurrent rise in oral health awareness. The study findings contribute to the overall picture of Fijian school children's dental health.
Related Concept Videos
Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.
Oral Cavity
Teeth: The teeth are the hardest structures in our bodies. Humans have two sets of teeth throughout their lifetime: deciduous (baby) teeth and permanent teeth. Each tooth consists of several parts: the crown (visible part), the root (embedded in the jaw), enamel (hard outer...
Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations
