The dental health of 5-year-old children from disadvantaged schools in the Eastern Regional Health Authority area 2000.
BACKGROUND
An oral health promotion project targeted at 5-year-old children in schools designated as disadvantaged was piloted by the Dental Health Foundation. The dental health of some of the children in the project was assessed.


RESULTS
It was found that in senior infant classes in schools designated as socially disadvantaged, fewer children were decay free and the mean dmft was higher compared with data from the most recent survey of children at national schools. Schools with an additional disadvantaged rating (part of the 'Breaking the Cycle' scheme) had even fewer children who were decay free, a higher mean dmft and an increased proportion of the dmft was made up of untreated disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The Department of Education and Science's designation of a school as disadvantaged is a marker for poor dental health.
Bradley
Conac
C
Department of Public and Child Dental Health, Dublin Dental School and Hospital.
D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009909:Oral Health; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*