The oral health of children and adolescents in Heidelberg, Victoria, 1991.

Changing patterns of oral health were investigated in a selected population of children and adolescents in Heidelberg, Victoria. Oral health was examined in terms of caries experience, oral hygiene and gingival condition. The findings were compared with the results of a study conducted in the same area 10 years previously. The findings were also related to sociodemographic variables such as age, sex, and ethnic and socioeconomic background. A random sample of 403 children and adolescents aged 6-8 years, 11-13 years, and 14-16 years were selected from 5 primary schools and 3 secondary schools in the area. A questionnaire eliciting sociodemographic information was administered and an intra-oral examination was conducted on each subject. Dental caries was recorded in terms of DMF-T. Oral hygiene was assessed by the Plaque Index and gingival status by the Gingival Index. Results showed that subjects from this study demonstrated improved oral health compared with subjects from the previous study. In 1981, 25 per cent of 6-8 year olds and 9 per cent of 14-16 year olds were caries free. In 1991, 92 per cent of 6-8 year olds and 36 per cent of 14-16 year olds were caries free. Predictably, it was also found that age was significantly related to caries level, oral hygiene and gingival condition.