[The restorative care index in children 1. Factors concerning the child]

In 2007 a study was undertaken of the restorative care index of the teeth of children under the age of 18. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the factors associated with the restorative care index in children. Factors investigated were (post-) brushing, inspection frequency, sweets-consumption frequency, socio-economic status and treatment or lack thereof by a general practitioner or dentist who works in a clinic for child health care. This study made use of statistics assembled for an earlier study of children formerly covered by public health insurance in the municipality of The Hague and research carried out at child dental clinics. Socio-economic status and the level of oral care were correlated with dental quality. No patient-bound factors were significantly correlated with the level of care. There was however a positive correlation between the'type' of dentist (family dentist or dentist associated with a clinic for child dental care) and the chance of curative treatment (in the case of developing caries).