Determinants of caries prevalence and severity in higher SES Indian children.
OBJECTIVE
Recent epidemiological studies in the economically developing countries show that the prevalence and severity of dental caries has increased with industrialization and exposure of these populations to western diets. The aim of this study was to quantify the caries experience, and identify determinants associated with caries, in a population which has a higher socio-economic status (SES), and is the most westernized in India.


METHODS
The study site was Goa, a former Portuguese colony, which became part of India in 1961. Data came from a cross-sectional survey of 1,189 seventh grade children in private schools, consisting of a clinical dental examination and a self-administered questionnaire to their parents.


METHODS
The study used the cavitated/non-cavitated criteria to score for caries, the TF index for fluorosis, and the Silness and Loe index for plaque.


RESULTS
The mean age of the children was 12.2 years. The proportion of children caries-free in the permanent dentition was 22.2%. The mean DMFT and DMFS in the study group were 2.78 and 4.20, respectively. The decayed component accounted for over 87% of the DMFT, DMFS, dft, and dfs. Results of the crude, stratified, and multivariate regression analyses showed that poor oral hygiene, mother's highest level of education, use of fluoride toothpaste before the age of six years, and higher frequency of tooth brushing were risk indicators of caries prevalence and severity.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that risk indicators of caries in this study population were similar to those in developed countries.
Mascarenhas
A K
AK
Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003732:Dental Caries Activity Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data