title: Caries prevalence and need for dental care in 13-18-year-olds in the Municipality of Milan, Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the relationship between caries prevalence and toothbrushing and dietary habits in adolescents in the city of Milan (Italy).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of a cross-sectional survey using clustering samples. DMFT was recorded following the WHO guidelines by three calibrated examiners. A dental health questionnaire was completed by the subjects to assess their toothbrushing and oral hygiene habits. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 1,333 students (age-range 13-18 years, 648 males and 685 females) was studied. The students came from three secondary schools located in different socio-economic and cultural areas of the city.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caries experience (DMFT>0) was 59.11%. A significant linear trend (p<0.01) was observed for DT>0 among the three different schools selected. The mean DMFT was 1.94 +/- 2.46 and difference observed in DT, FT and DMFT among the three schools was statistically significant (p<0.05). Eating snacks more than once a day provided a significantly higher odds ratio for DMFT>0 and for DT>0 (OR=5.24, p<0.001 and OR= 1.46, p=0.01 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant trend between caries experience and socioeconomic status was observed: adolescents, attending school in a low-socio-economic areas, showed higher caries prevalence and higher levels of untreated caries than their counterparts attending schools located in medium-high socio-economic areas.
authors.affiliation: Dental Institute, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy. gcampus@uniss.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campus
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cagetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Senna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strohmenger
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Petersen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*