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.


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


METHODS
Clinical examinations were carried out in school.


METHODS
65 boys and 49 girls were examined.


METHODS
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.
Whittle
K W
KW
Salford Community Healthcare NHS Trust, Dental Department, Lance Burn Health Centre, Salford.
Whittle
J G
JG
D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004245:DMF Index; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology
D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants