The dental caries experience of 5-year-old children in Great Britain. Surveys coordinated by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry in 1993/94.

This paper reports the results of standardised clinical caries examinations of 191,770 five-year-old children from across Great Britain. These 1993/94 coordinated surveys were the latest in a series which seeks to monitor the dental health of children and to assess the provision of dental services. The criteria and conventions of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry trainers' pack of 1992/93 were used. Representative samples were drawn from participating health authorities and boards and caries was diagnosed at the caries into dentine (d3) threshold using a visual method without radiography or fibre-optic transillumination. The results demonstrated a wide variation in prevalence across Great Britain, with mean dmft for regions and countries ranging from 1.1 in the West Midlands to 3.2 in Scotland. The mean value for dmft across Great Britain was 1.92 (d = 1.38, m = 0.30, f = 0.24). Overall, 45 per cent of children had evidence of caries experience (dmft > 0), although the means ranged between 32 per cent (SW Thames) and 62 per cent (Scotland). Trends over time demonstrate a deterioration in overall dmft of 11 per cent since 1989/90, comprising a fall in the number of fillings and an increase in untreated decay of 30 per cent. These findings demonstrate the continuing need for more effective preventive and treatment services for this important age group.