title: Dental caries experience of preschool children from the North Brisbane region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To report the dental caries experience of preschool children within the north Brisbane region and to investigate the association between selected social and demographic variables and disease presence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional sample of 2515 children aged four to six years was examined in a preschool setting using decayed, missing, filled teeth/surface (dmft/dmfs) and percentage caries free indices. A self-administered questionnaire obtained information regarding selected social and demographic variables. The data were analysed using the chi-square and one way analysis of variance procedures at the 5 per cent level of significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 1668 (66.3 per cent) children were disease free at the examination and mean dmft was 1.4+/-2.77 and dmfs was 2.28+/-6.00. Dental caries occurred more frequently and severely in children from non-Caucasian background (p<0.000), family language other than English (p=0.001) and lower socio-economic status (p<0.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Significant associations between child ethnicity, language spoken at home, socio-economic status and caries presence have been identified. Epidemiological data can be used for improved public oral health service planning and resource allocation within the region.
authors.affiliation: Children's Oral Health Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Queensland. Hallett@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Hallett
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: O'Rourke
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004522:Educational Status; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology