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https://hdl.handle.net/2440/43353
Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Dental caries trends among indigenous and non-indigenous Australian children |
Author: | Jamieson, L. Armfield, J. Roberts-Thomson, K. |
Citation: | Community Dental Health, 2007; 24(4):238-246 |
Publisher: | F D I World Dental Press Ltd |
Issue Date: | 2007 |
ISSN: | 0265-539X 2515-1746 |
Statement of Responsibility: | L.M. Jamieson, J.M. Armfield and K.F. Roberts-Thomson |
Abstract: | Objective To examine trends in dental caries among indigenous and non-indigenous children in an Australian territory. Basic Research Design Routinely-collected data from a random selection of 6- and 12-year-old indigenous and non-indigenous children enrolled in the Northern Territory School Dental Service from 1989–2000 were obtained. The association of indigenous status with caries prevalence (percent dmft or DMFT>0 and percent dmft>3 or DMFT>1), caries severity (mean dmft or DMFT) and treatment need (percent d/dmft or D/DMFT) was examined. Results Results were obtained for 10,687 6- and 12-year old indigenous children and 21,777 6- and 12year-old non-indigenous children from 1989–2000. Across all years, indigenous 6-year-olds had higher caries prevalence in the deciduous dentition, greater mean dmft and percent d/dmft, and indigenous 12-year-olds had greater percent D/DMFT than their non-indigenous counterparts (p<0.05). From 1996–2000 the mean dmft and percent d/dmft for indigenous 6-year-olds and mean DMFT and percent D/DMFT for indigenous 12-year-olds increased, yet remained relatively constant for their non-indigenous counterparts (p<0.05). From 1997–2000, the percent dmft>3 for 6-year-old indigenous children was more than double that of non-indigenous children, while across the period 1994–2000, indigenous 6-year-old mean dmft was more than double that of their non-indigenous counterparts (p<0.05). Conclusions Indigenous children in our study experienced consistently poorer oral health than non-indigenous children. The severity of dental caries among indigenous children, particularly in the deciduous dentition, appears to be increasing while that of non-indigenous children has remained constant. Our findings suggest that indigenous children carry a disproportionate amount of the dental caries burden among Northern Territory 6- and 12-year-olds. |
Keywords: | Children dental caries indigenous trends |
Rights: | © BASCD 2007 |
Published version: | http://www.cdhjournal.org/view.php?article_id=38&journal_id=6 |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest Dentistry publications |
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