title: National survey of the oral health of 12- and 15-year-old schoolchildren in the United Arab Emirates.
abstract: This paper describes the first national survey of oral health in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Using WHO criteria, dental caries and fluorosis were recorded in 2651 schoolchildren aged 12 and 15 years, and periodontal disease in those aged 15 years. The prevalence of dental caries in the permanent teeth of 12-year-olds was 54%; the mean DMFT (number of decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth) per child was 1.6. The prevalence of dental caries in 15-year-olds was 65% and the mean DMFT was 2.5. For the UAE as a whole, 70% of 12-year-old schoolchildren had no dental fluorosis and 37% of 15-year-olds had healthy periodontal tissues.
authors.affiliation: Preventive Dentistry Section, Ministry of Health, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. nuraini@emirates.net.ae
authors.forename: M A I
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: El-Nadeef
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Al Hussani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hassab
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Arab
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003753:Dental Health Surveys; D005260:Female; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014479:United Arab Emirates