The dental health of pre-school children in a deprived urban community in Glasgow.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the dental health status of pre-school children in a deprived urban community in Greater Glasgow. The aim was to gather baseline data to support the need for a multi-agency dental health programme for this age group and against which trends in dental health could be measured over time.


METHODS
A defined deprived community was identified and an area profile compiled. Children attending the five nursery schools in and around the area were examined using the standardised criteria adopted by BASCD/SHBDEP.


RESULTS
Two hundred and forty-eight children were examined representing 75.8% of those on the nursery rolls. Caries prevalence and mean dmft rose from 64% and 3.14 for three to three and a half-year-old children to 86% and 6.14 for four and a half- to five-year-old children. This latter figure was higher than the Scottish and Health Board averages for five-year-old children (2.93 and 3.5 respectively). Those from the most deprived postcode sector had significantly worse dental health than those resident in other areas (mean dmft = 6.50 compared with 3.77). They also had significantly more unrestorable lesions. Overall, the Care Index (ft/dmft x 100) was 3.03 which is less than the Scottish average of 7.8.


CONCLUSIONS
The dental health of nursery school children in and around the Possilpark area of Glasgow is worse than both the Scottish and health board averages for five-year-old children. Those resident in the most deprived sector of the community have significantly worse dental health. The main components of dmft were untreated decay and missing teeth. The Care Index was low.
Sweeney
P C
PC
Argyll and Clyde Health Board, Paisley, Scotland, UK.
Gelbier
S
S
D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012606:Scotland; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data