[Oral health and dental care in refugee children].
An epidemiological study was performed on caries, fluorosis and plaque in children of refugees 8, 9 and 10 years of age. Tooth brushing habits and dental attendance were evaluated with a questionnaire. Of the 87 children participating (response rate 89%), 85% showed caries experience, 17% fluorosis and 46% clearly visible plaque. Only 14% of the children had filled teeth. The number of children brushing their teeth two times a day was 42%; 58% ever visited a dentist, mostly because of toothache. Statistically significant differences exist between ethnic categories for caries prevalence, tooth brushing frequency and dental attendance. As oral health in refugee children turned out to be less favourable than in Dutch children, organised activities are recommended to fulfill the observed need of professional curative and preventive oral care.
Kalsbeek
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H
Divisie Jeugd van TNO Preventie en Gezondheid, Postbus 2215, 2301 CE Leiden.
Zijlstra-Remon
N
N
Filedt Kok-Weimar
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TL
D002648:Child; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000208:ethnology; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires