Dental caries trends in primary teeth among third-grade children in Harris County, Texas.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess trends in dental caries in the primary dentition of third-grade children in suburban Harris County, Texas.


METHODS
The study populations for the 2 cross-sectional surveys consisted of 1,584 third-grade children in 1991 and 1,039 in 1998. Trained dentists collected data on decayed and filled tooth surfaces (dfs). Chi-square tests analyzed the differences in proportions of children with and without dental caries experience in 1991 and 1998 by demographic subgroups: (1) gender; (2) ethnicity; and (3) socioeconomic status (SES). Student's t test investigated the differences in mean dfs scores in subgroups.


RESULTS
The prevalence of caries decreased significantly from 59% to 54% between 1991 and 1998 (P = .01). The caries prevalence was lower in 1998 than 1991 in certain subgroups: 1) females; 2) Caucasians; and 3) low SES. The mean dfs score decreased significantly from 4.81 to 3.16, and lower dfs scores were seen in certain demographic subgroups between the 2 studies (P < .05). Children from a low SES had high levels of untreated caries in both studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a decline in primary teeth caries of study participants, intergroup disparities exist, emphasizing the need for preventive strategies, especially for the low SES children.
Williamson
Dan D
DD
Dental Health Services, Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services, Houston, Texas, USA. dwilliamson@entouch.net
Narendran
Sena
S
Gray
William G
WG
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data