Kruger E, Dyson K, Tennant M
The Centre for Rural and Remote Oral Health, The University of Western Australia, Crawley.
Aust Dent J. 2005 Dec;50(4):258-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1834-7819.2005.tb00370.x.
In light of the various challenges faced by public dental health services, especially when large geographical areas and isolated communities are concerned, targeting of high risk groups within these populations needs to be investigated. This study aimed to assess caries experience, dental health behaviour and dental service utilization among a sample of pre-school children in a rural community in Western Australia.
The study was a cross-sectional oral health survey of pre-school children between the ages of 2 and 5 in Carnarvon, Western Australia.
In total, 70 pre-school children (representing approximately 15 per cent of the total 2-5 year old population of Carnarvon) were examined. Less than half of the children were caries free. Both caries prevalence and severity (mean dmft) were significantly higher among Aboriginal children than non-Aboriginal children. Caries prevalence and severity were also significantly higher among children who often consumed carbonated drinks.
This survey indicates that some pre-school children in rural areas, and especially Aboriginal pre-school children, are at high risk of developing dental caries. Effective oral health programmes commencing well before the usual first contact with dental services at age 5 are needed for young children at high risk of dental caries.
鉴于公共牙科保健服务面临的各种挑战，尤其是涉及大面积地理区域和偏远社区时，需要对这些人群中的高危群体进行针对性研究。本研究旨在评估西澳大利亚一个农村社区中一组学龄前儿童的龋齿经历、口腔健康行为和牙科服务利用情况。
该研究是对西澳大利亚州卡那封2至5岁学龄前儿童进行的横断面口腔健康调查。
总共检查了70名学龄前儿童（约占卡那封2至5岁总人口的15%）。不到一半的儿童没有龋齿。原住民儿童的龋齿患病率和严重程度（平均dmft）均显著高于非原住民儿童。经常饮用碳酸饮料的儿童的龋齿患病率和严重程度也显著更高。
本次调查表明，农村地区的一些学龄前儿童，尤其是原住民学龄前儿童，患龋齿的风险很高。对于患龋齿风险较高的幼儿，需要在通常5岁首次接触牙科服务之前就开展有效的口腔健康计划。
