Dental caries and caries associated factors in Swedish 15-year-olds in relation to immigrant background.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of caries and caries associated variables in 15-year-olds in relation to foreign background and to examine differences in the prevalence of caries in immigrant adolescents according to their length of residence in Sweden. All 15-year-old adolescents (n=143) at one public school in the city of Jönköping, Sweden were asked to participate in the study. The adolescents were divided into two groups according to their background: immigrants and non-immigrants. Data on caries prevalence were extracted from the dental records of the examination made when the participants were 15 years old. The proportions of immigrants and non-immigrants free from carious lesions were equal. Immigrant adolescents, however, had on average more enamel carious lesions. Adolescents born in Sweden of immigrant parents or who had arrived before 1 year of age had a caries prevalence similar to those of non-immigrant adolescents, whereas children who had immigrated to Sweden after 7 years of age had a caries prevalence that was 2-3 times higher. As the caries carious lesions in immigrant adolescents is mainly restricted to the enamel, and possibly reversible, early introduction of preventive programmes seems essential.
Jacobsson
Brittmarie
B
Department of Natural Science and Biomedicine, School of Health Sciences, Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden. lill-karl.wendt@lj.se
Wendt
Lill-Kari
LK
Johansson
Ingegerd
I
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology