title: Dental caries and dental registration status in nursery school children in Newry, Northern Ireland.
abstract: 294 children aged 2-4 yr attending nursery schools in Northern Ireland were examined for dental caries and dental registration status under the capitation system in general dental practice. Their mean age was 3 yr 10 months. Sixty eight per cent were caries free, mean dmft was 1.10 and dt, mt and ft scores were 0.74, 0.28 and 0.09, respectively. With increasing age the prevalence of caries increased, though the very low care index (d/dmft) did improve in the older children. Seventy per cent reported being registered for dental care and their levels of dental caries were significantly higher than those who were not yet enrolled (P < 0.001). For those not enrolled for dental care the main perceived barriers to seeking care related to lack of symptoms (33.6%) and apathy (31.6%) while few reported fear as a barrier (4.5%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric & Preventive Dentistry, School of Clinical Dentistry, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kinirons
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013222:State Medicine; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous