title: The use of a classification of residential neighbourhoods (ACORN) to demonstrate differences in dental health of children resident within the south Birmingham health district and of different socio-economic backgrounds.
abstract: This study was undertaken to evaluate variations in the dental health of children living within fluoridated South Birmingham, using a classification of residential neighbourhoods (ACORN) as a descriptor of socio-economic status, and to evaluate the change in these differences over time. Five-year-old children were examined as part of the rolling programme of epidemiological surveys co-ordinated by the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD) in 1987 and 1989/90. The ACORN classification of each child was determined from the postal code of the home address. ACORN groups were amalgamated into three ranked divisions. There was a variation in dental health both in 1987 and 1989/90; children from disadvantaged groups had the poorest dental health. There was more marked variation in 1987 than in 1989/90. The reduction in inequality during this period was due to a relatively greater improvement in the dental health of the children from the more socially deprived areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Public Health, Warwickshire Health Authorities, UK.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Elley
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Langford
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005457:Fluoridation; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000145:classification*; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors