The oral health status of refugee children in Iceland

In recent years, global conflicts have caused a significant rise in displaced individuals, increasing the number of asylum seekers and refugees. Iceland is no exception. Objective: To assess the dental hygiene practices, oral health status, and dental caries experience (dmft/DMFT) among children and adolescents, 0-18 years, seeking international protection in Iceland. The secondary purpose is to identify areas for improvement of preventive measures and dental care services among this demographic. Basic research design and participants: Review of dental examination charts of 189 children, 0-18 years, who attended the Faculty of Odontology, University of Iceland, between January 1, 2023, and April 1, 2024. Results: Half (52.9%) the children had either never attended a previous dental appointment (39.7%) or not in the previous 2 years (13.2%). Dental pain was the main reason for previous visits (29.4%), with 43.1% reporting having experienced dental pain before. Most children (87.3%) brushed their teeth since the eruption of the first tooth, and 82.4% used fluoride toothpaste. Dental caries affected 61.4% of the children, and 20.6% had dental infections at the time of examination. The mean dmft for six-year-olds was 4.33, while for twelve-year-olds, mean DMFT was 2.55. The prevalence of gingivitis was 37.8%, dental erosion 12.3%, dental fluorosis 8.8%, and molar incisor hypomineralisation 12.3%. Conclusions: The dental health of children seeking international protection in Iceland is poor compared to their peers in other Nordic countries and beyond. The findings highlight the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to dental healthcare for these children.