Dental caries and its determinants among recent immigrants from rural Ethiopia.
Adults (35-45 yr old) and children (5 and 12 yr old) recently arrived in Israel from rural areas in Ethiopia were examined. Caries levels were low: e.g. DMFT = 0.31 among 12-yr-olds, and 1.27 amongst adults. The 5-yr-olds were 86.8% caries-free, while 12-yr-olds were 81.8% and adults 54% caries-free respectively. According to interview data, the diet in Ethiopia had been based on local agricultural products and was almost sugar-free. The mean total count of salivary bacteria, as determined on blood agar, was 3.4 x 10(8); mean count of Streptococcus viridans, on mitis salivarius, was 6.7 x 10(7); and mean count of S. mutans, as determined on mitis salivarius with bacitracin, was 1.7 x 10(7). These levels were all high and were not significantly different from a control group of 20 Israelis. The mean number of lactobacilli, on Rogosa agar, was 2.75 x 10(4), which was significantly higher than among the controls (3.6 x 10(3). Salivary pH levels were generally similar between the Ethiopian group and the controls. Salivary flow was significantly higher for the Ethiopians (1.93 ml/min) than for controls (1.16 ml/min). Low levels of caries in this population can be attributed to an almost sugar-free diet and high salivary flow, but not to the composition of oral microflora.
Sgan-Cohen
H D
HD
Department of Community Dentistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
Steinberg
D
D
Zusman
S P
SP
Sela
M N
MN
D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D004032:Diet; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007557:Israel; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D012636:Secretory Rate; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification
D005459:Fluorides