Health Services Research Program, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
Gene W. Hirschfeld School of Dental Hygiene, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
J Dent Hyg. 2024 Oct;98(5):34-44.
Low-income children experience disproportionately high rates of dental caries and challenges in accessing dental care compared to their higher-income peers. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the prevalence of dental caries and dental service utilization among Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) enrolled children. The literature search and review were conducted between September 2023 and February 2024. The review followed the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines and included three databases: PubMed, CINAHL, and Dentistry & Oral Sciences Source. The study focused on children aged one to five participating in WIC within the United States (US) and aimed to determine the prevalence of dental service utilization and dental caries in the targeted population. This review includes twelve articles that are quantitative observational studies conducted from February 2001 to February 2023. Most of the studies were conducted in WIC programs in the Southern and Midwest regions of the US. Dental caries rates decreased by 61.8% from 2004 to 2016, with the highest prevalence in 2004, and the lowest prevalence in 2016. Dental service utilization among WIC children increased by 56.9% from 1992 to 2020. There has been an increase in dental service utilization among WIC-enrolled children, with an overall decrease in dental caries over the last two decades. However, the prevalence of dental caries remains disproportionately high for children enrolled in WIC when compared to non-participants. To develop effective dental interventions for children enrolled in WIC, it is fundamental to identify the unique determinants of dental caries in this population.
低收入儿童的龋齿率和获得牙科保健服务的机会明显高于高收入儿童。本研究旨在评估参加妇女、婴儿和儿童特别补充营养计划（WIC）的儿童的龋齿患病率和牙科服务利用情况。文献检索和综述于 2023 年 9 月至 2024 年 2 月进行。该研究遵循 PRISMA-ScR 报告指南，纳入了三个数据库：PubMed、CINAHL 和 Dentistry & Oral Sciences Source。研究对象为 1 至 5 岁在美国参加 WIC 的儿童，旨在确定目标人群中牙科服务利用和龋齿的患病率。本综述包括 12 篇文章，均为 2001 年 2 月至 2023 年 2 月期间在美国进行的定量观察性研究。大多数研究在美国南部和中西部地区的 WIC 项目中进行。2004 年至 2016 年，龋齿率下降了 61.8%，2004 年的患病率最高，2016 年的患病率最低。1992 年至 2020 年，WIC 儿童的牙科服务利用率增加了 56.9%。在过去二十年中，WIC 儿童的牙科服务利用率有所增加，龋齿总体呈下降趋势。然而，与非参与者相比，参加 WIC 的儿童的龋齿患病率仍然过高。为了为参加 WIC 的儿童制定有效的牙科干预措施，必须确定该人群中龋齿的独特决定因素。
