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Caries decline in the primary dentition of Belgian children over 15 years
J C Carvalho1, W D'Hoore, J P Van Nieuwenhuysen
1School of Dentistry, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. joana.carvalho@patd.ucl.ac.be
Insights
Childhood caries prevalence in Brussels decreased significantly between 1983 and 1998. This decline in dental caries was linked to socioeconomic status and ethnic background.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Dental caries remains a significant public health concern in children.
- Understanding trends in caries prevalence is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Socioeconomic and ethnic factors can influence oral health disparities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in primary dentition caries prevalence in Brussels children from 1983 to 1998.
- To analyze the association between caries trends and children's socioeconomic and ethnic characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study comparing two cohorts of first-grade children in Brussels (1983 and 1998).
- Caries experience measured using decayed, missing, or filled teeth (dmft) and surfaces (dmfs) scores.
- Socioeconomic status determined by parental education and occupation; children categorized into socioeconomic status, ethnic origin, and cohort (SESEC) subgroups.
Main Results:
- Caries-free children increased from 31.5% to 47.5%.
- Mean dmft scores decreased from 3.9 to 2.3, and dmfs scores from 6.9 to 5.0 (P < 0.001).
- Privileged children had 2.5 times higher odds of being caries-free; the 1998 cohort had 2.3 times higher odds.
Conclusions:
- A notable decline in childhood dental caries was observed in Brussels primary dentition over 15 years.
- The reduction in caries prevalence and severity varied significantly based on children's socioeconomic status and ethnic origin.
Objectives:
(1) To investigate changes in caries prevalence in the primary dentition of children resident in Brussels, Belgium between 1983 and 1998, (2) to analyse associations between changes in caries and children's socioeconomic and ethnic aspects.
Methods:
In the Brussels region, children in the first grade at the same schools were sampled in cohort 1983 (n = 396) and cohort 1998 (n = 473). Caries experience of Belgian and non-Belgian nationals was summarized in dmf scores. The socioeconomic status of the children was established based on their parents' education and profession. The children were categorized in eight subgroups in relation to their socioeconomic status, ethnic origin and cohort (SESEC subgroups).
Results:
The percentage of caries-free children increased significantly from 31.5% to 47.5%. A reduction was observed in the dmft scores from 3.9 to 2.3 (P < 0.001) and in the dmfs scores from 6.9 to 5.0 (P < 0.001). The odds ratio of being caries-free was 2.5 times higher for privileged children and 2.3 times higher for children belonging to cohort 1998. The ANCOVA analyses revealed that most of the SESEC subgroups showed significant reduction in dmft scores from 1983 to 1998 (P < 0.003).
Conclusions:
Children resident in Brussels showed caries decline in their primary dentition over 15 years. Diversity in caries decline was associated with children's socioeconomic status and ethnic origin.
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