Chen Kitty Jieyi, Gao Sherry Shiqian, Duangthip Duangporn, Lo Edward Chin Man, Chu Chun Hung
Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong,
Clin Cosmet Investig Dent. 2019 Jan 17;11:27-35. doi: 10.2147/CCIDE.S190993. eCollection 2019.
Surveys have shown that the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) among 5-year-old children decreased from 63% in 1993 to 55% in 2017. Caries experience was unevenly distributed; 81% of the caries lesions were found in 26% of the children. Risk factors, including oral hygiene practice behaviors, sugar consumption, parental oral health-related knowledge, and sociodemographic backgrounds, were significantly related to ECC. Oral health promotion aimed at managing the burden of ECC has been implemented. Water fluoridation was launched in 1961, and the fluoride concentration has been adjusted to 0.5 ppm since 1988. It is considered an important dental public health measure in Hong Kong. The Department of Health set up the Oral Health Education Unit in 1989 to deliver oral health education to further improve the oral health of preschool children. Other nongovernmental organizations also launched short-term oral health promotion programs for preschool children. However, no significant change in the prevalence of ECC has been observed in the recent two decades. There is a necessity to revisit dental public health policies and develop effective evidence-based strategies to encourage changes in oral health-related behaviors to forestall the impending epidemic of ECC in Hong Kong.
调查显示，5岁儿童的早期儿童龋（ECC）患病率从1993年的63%降至2017年的55%。龋齿经历分布不均；81%的龋损发生在26%的儿童中。包括口腔卫生习惯行为、糖摄入量、家长口腔健康相关知识以及社会人口背景等危险因素与ECC显著相关。旨在管理ECC负担的口腔健康促进措施已经实施。1961年开始实施饮水氟化，自1988年以来氟化物浓度已调整至0.5 ppm。这被认为是香港一项重要的牙科公共卫生措施。卫生署于1989年设立了口腔健康教育组，开展口腔健康教育以进一步改善学龄前儿童的口腔健康。其他非政府组织也为学龄前儿童开展了短期口腔健康促进项目。然而，在最近二十年中，未观察到ECC患病率有显著变化。有必要重新审视牙科公共卫生政策，并制定有效的循证策略，以鼓励改变与口腔健康相关的行为，从而预防香港即将出现的ECC流行。
