Oral condition and background factors in Somali immigrant children newly arrived in Sweden

The aim of the present study was to obtain baseline information about oral health, oral health behaviours and knowledge about prevention of oral diseases in newly arrived Somali children. All 310 Somali children arriving in four municipalities in Kronoberg County, Sweden, during 2013 participated. We collected interview data (background factors related to oral health) and performed a clinical examination (oral hygiene, marginal bone loss, malocclusion, dental caries) within the first two months after arrival.The children were analysed in three age groups: 3-6 years (n=49), 7-11 years (n=125), and 12-17years (n=136). The interview revealed that 78-82% of the children in the three groups had never visited a dental clinic in Somalia. Toothache was reported by 18-28% of the children. In the youngest group,71% of the parents did not assist with tooth-cleaning and children commonly used a Miswak stick for cleaning. About half the children had poor oral hygiene while 25-33% repor- ted daily intake of sugary snacks. Malocclusion affected 40% of the 7-11-year-olds and 50% of the 12-17-year-olds. Bone loss affected 13% of the 12-17-year-olds.The 3-6-year-olds had a high prevalence (37%) of missing primary, lower cuspids. Their mean number of decayed, extracted and filled primary teeth (deft) was 2.3, and 43% were free from caries. In the 7-11-year-olds, mean decayed and filled permanent teeth (DFT) was o.8, while in the 12--17-year-olds DFT was 2.2 with 40% caries-free. Comparison with resident children indicates substantially higher caries preva- lence among the Somali children. The study has shown that newly arrived Somali children often present with oral diseases and are in urgent need of treatment and have great need for oral health promotion.