Whittle K W, Whittle J G
Salford Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Dental Department, Lance Burn Health Centre, Salford.
Br Dent J. 1998 Apr 25;184(8):394-6. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4809642.
To investigate the dental health of 12-year-old children and the effectiveness of dental services in 1997 and compare the results with studies carried out in 1960 and 1988.
Analytical survey using a one in five random sample of children in all seven secondary schools in Salford UK. Standard clinical criteria were used.
Clinical examinations were carried out in school.
65 boys and 49 girls were examined.
Caries experience expressed as DMFT, Restorative Index and Care Index.
The boys and girls both had a mean DMFT of 1.65. (95% confidence intervals were 1.18-2.12 for the boys and 1.16-2.14 for the girls.) This compared with means of 2.34 (1.85-2.83) for boys and 3.40 (2.63-4.17) for girls in 1988, and 6.04 (5.65-6.43) and 6.54 (6.09-7.00), respectively in 1960. The prevalence of caries fell least in first permanent molar teeth. The Care Index for the boys was 22.0 in 1960, 51.4 in 1988 and 31.5 in 1997. The pattern was similar for the girls for whom the values were 19.5, 48.6 and 32.2 respectively. The boys' Restorative Index scores (modified to include fissure sealants) were 25.7 in 1960, 58.5 in 1988 and 57.1 in 1997. The girls' scores were 23.9, 53.7 and 58.0.
Caries has declined considerably in Salford since 1960. More of the total disease was concentrated in first permanent molar teeth in 1997. Indices, which measure the effectiveness of dental services, show that a greater proportion of overall disease was being treated in 1988 than in 1960 or 1997.
