title: Oral health of 12-year-old Bangladeshi children.
abstract: Previous dental caries studies in Bangladesh have been performed on non-randomized samples, using various clinical criteria. Estimates of dental caries prevalence in 12-year-olds are therefore uncertain. In the present study a clustered, stratified random sampling procedure was used. Dental caries was stored as DMFT in accordance with the WHO recommendations and related to oral hygiene and various behavioral and social variables. The caries experience was found to be low, with a mean DMFT score of experience was 0.97. Poor oral hygiene and bleeding gingiva were frequently detected. Dental caries associated with sex, oral hygiene (girls), and use of dental services (more caries among frequent users than non-users). A Correlation matrix analyzing the most influential independent variables indicated that sex and oral hygiene seemed to have an independent effect, whereas a web of social factors interfered with the use of dental services' variable.
authors.affiliation: Dhaka Dental College and Hospital, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mohammad Shafi
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ullah
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aleksejuniene
authors.forename: Harald M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Eriksen
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010512:Periodontal Index; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D018881:Suburban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D005459:Fluorides