title: Caries experience in 14-year-olds from Northeast Italy. Is socioeconomic-status (SES) still a risk factor?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prevalence and severity of dental caries in 14-year-olds of Northeast Italy were estimated, evaluating the dependence to SES.
  
  
  METHODS
  An epidemiological survey was performed among a randomised cluster sample of 560 (290 M and 270 F) 14-year-olds attending secondary schools, to evaluate DMFS following WHO indications. Association between caries occurrence and SES was evaluated in a logistic regression model. To account for high proportion of zero scores (DMFS and DS distribution highly positively skewed) data was moreover modelled with negative binomial regression and zero-inflated models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caries prevalence was 63.4% with a mean DMFS of 3.0 ± 3.8. A significant trend between means was observed regarding DS in the different SES levels: z = 2.22 p = 0.03 (occupational level) and z = 3.45 p<0.01 when SES was based on educational level. The Negative Binomial Regression model resulted more appropriate than the Poisson model because the dispersion parameter was significantly different from zero (alpha=1.5, 95% CI=1.3-1.8). Working class status showed significant association with DMFS (p=0.04) while using DS as dependent variable, working class subjects and subjects with medium-low and low educational level, showed a statistically significant association.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socioeconomic status is still a predictor for dental decay in the Italian 14-year-olds.
authors.affiliation: Dentistry Unit Cittadella Hospital Veneto Region, Italy. roberto.ferro@ulss15.pd.it
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Besostri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stellini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Denotti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000453:epidemiology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005884:Gingival Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010512:Periodontal Index; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class