Severe early childhood caries: a modern (neglected) epidemic?
N Z Med J
; 133(1518): 10-18, 2020 07 17.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32683428
ABSTRACT
AIMS:
There is mounting concern that there is increasing severity in the oral health burden of children who have dental caries. This study aims to describe the current dentally examined rates of severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) among children aged five years within the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) region, overall and by major ethnic groups.METHODS:
A retrospective analysis of routine oral health data collected from all children aged five years attending the CDHB child oral health services for their routine oral health check between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019, inclusive.RESULTS:
The sample included 10,766 children, of whom 1,822 (16.9%) were Maori, 499 (4.6%) were Pacific and 8,445 (78.4%) were non-Maori/non-Pacific. Overall, 1,980 (18.4%) were classified as having S-ECC, and significant ethnic differences emerged between Maori, Pacific, non-Maori/non-Pacific children (26.2%, 40.1% and 15.4%, respectively; p<0.001).CONCLUSIONS:
Despite considerable public investment, Canterbury's children are carrying a heavy oral health burden, which is unequally shared. Risk factors for and the consequence of this burden have significant health and wellbeing implications, now and for the future. Systemic changes and interventions are necessary to redress this childhood oral health epidemic.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Ethnicity
/
Oral Health
/
Dental Caries
/
Neglected Diseases
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
En
Journal:
N Z Med J
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Australia