Summary of: the dental health of three-year-old children in Greater Glasgow, Scotland.
OBJECTIVE
To report on the dental health of three-year-old children in Greater Glasgow, and to examine the amount of dental caries associated with deprivation in this young age group.


METHODS
Dental inspections in nursery schools.


METHODS
The national inspection programme using BASCD criteria was extended to include an additional group of nursery attending three-year-olds in Greater Glasgow in 2006/7 and 2007/8. Caries experience was analysed by logistic regression models and ROC plots.


RESULTS
Fourteen percent of this population was sampled in 2006/7 and 19% in 2007/8 (usable data n = 1,711 in 2006/7, 2,428 in 2007/8). Mean d(3)mft was 1.1 in 2006/7 and 1.0 in 2007/8. The prevalence of caries experience was 26% in 2006/7 and 25% in 2008/9 (33% and 32%, respectively, for children in deprived areas). The adjusted odds-ratio for caries experience for children living in the most deprived areas was 2.90 (2.31, 3.64), p <0.001. There was a high rate of caries in the upper anterior teeth.


CONCLUSIONS
It was feasible to conduct large scale caries surveys of three-year-olds in a nursery setting. Poor dental health and inequality commence early in life. Caries prevention should be targeted toward deprived families from birth.
Davies
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