Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The purpose of this study was to evaluate the status of a sample of children ages 6 to 36 months with regard to prevalence of tooth decay in a community with an optimum fluoridated water supply. It was determined whether a relation existed between these data and the socioeconomic level of the family. One hundred and fifty children ages 6 to 36 months born and reared in Marion County, Indiana were examined with a dental mirror, explorer and a portable light. Parents/legal guardians of these children were given a questionnaire to obtain family history. Caries prevalence for children ages 6 to 12, 13 to 18, 19 to 24, 25 to 30, and 31 to 36 months were 4%, 0%, 22%, 23%, and 26%, respectively. Age, mother's educational attainment, and Medicaid experience remained significant predictors of caries experience: the odds of caries were 1.1 times for each monthly increase in age. Gender, father's educational attainment, family household income, and single parent status remained marginally significant predictors of caries experience. Results for similar correlation studies between caries prevalence and socioeconomic status for children ages 6 to 36 months are inconsistent. Further research is needed for children ages 6 to 36 months. Caries experience begins before age one. Patients, parents, and health care professionals need to be aware that the caries process begins at an early age, and prevention should begin as early as 6 months of age.

This study investigated the effect of geographic location on Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) in Native American Children three years of age from a Norther Plains Tribal Community. Geographic location of study participants was ascertained by postal district and categorized into geographic regions as well as dental clinic accessibility, defined as dental services present or absent in that district. The association of location category and dental caries (dmfs) was evaluated cross-sectionally at 36 months of age. Descriptive statistics demonstrated differences in dental caries distribution by geographic region and accessibility category. Bivariate analysis of disease by location showed a significant difference in dmfs between 4 geographic regions (p=0.0159) but not between accessibility categories (p=0.0687). Multivariable regression modeling for geographic region demonstrated the unique effect of geographic region on dental caries experience as well as five other key risk factors. Incident Rate Ratios (IRR) were computed for each of the risk factors, including number of erupted teeth (IRR=1.89, p=0.0147), fluoride exposure from tap water (IRR=1.70, p=0.0173), annual family income (IRR=1.58, p=0.0392), maternal DMFS (IRR=1.02, p=0.0040), and Mean Adequacy Ratio (IRR=1.05, p=0.1042). This study demonstrated statistically significant variation in cumulative dental caries experience of Native American children aged 36 months among geographic regions and identified the specific unites of association through multivariate modeling. These findings can be used for local dental caries prevention programs and contribute to a broader understanding of S-ECC among very young Native American children.

Som tandhygienist är det mycket intressant att studera karies-epidemiologiska undersökningar på både nationell och internationell nivå. Syftet med denna litteraturstudie är att beskriva och jämföra kariesstatus (DMFT) hos 12-åringar i Sverige och Irak, och några av de faktorer som kan påverka DMFT komponenternas roll och inverkan.För att besvara syftet användes information från litteratur och tidskrifter samt WHO:s databas om länderna. Resultatet visar att DMFT för 12-åringar i Irak var 1.7 (2003) och i Sverige 1.0 (2005). DT-komponenten, d.v.s. obehandlad karies, var hög hos irakiska barn medan FT- komponenten var hög för danska barn (inga data tillgängliga för Sverige). DMFT-medelvärde, sockerkonsumtion, ekonomiska resurser för tandvård, antal tandvårdpersonal och fluorprogram var mycket olika i Sverige och Irak, men differensen i DMFT var ändå inte markant. / As a dental hygienist it is relevant to study caries epidemiological studies on both national and international levels. The purpose of this literature study has been to describe and compare dental caries status (DMFT) of 12 years olds in Sweden and Iraq and the factors underlying the DMFT and DMFT components and facilitating role. To achieve the objective information from scientific literature and publications, and data from WHO database on these countries were used. Results showed that the DMFT for 12 year olds in Iraq and Sweden was 1.7(2003), 1.0 (2005) respectively. DT component was high among Iraqi children (untreated caries) while the FT component was high in Denmark, (no data was available for Sweden). DMFT mean, sugar consumption, economic resources for dental care, number of dental health professionals, and fluoride applications were very different in Sweden and Iraq, yet DMFT difference was not marked and serious.