Dental caries in 12-year-old children and the effectiveness of dental services in Salford, UK in 1960, 1988 and 1997.

OBJECTIVE

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.

BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN

Analytical survey using a one in five random sample of children in all seven secondary schools in Salford UK. Standard clinical criteria were used.

SETTING

Clinical examinations were carried out in school.

PARTICIPANTS

65 boys and 49 girls were examined.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Caries experience expressed as DMFT, Restorative Index and Care Index.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSIONS

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.