title: Oral health of Hong Kong children: a historical and epidemiological perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a historical and epidemiological overview of the oral health of Hong Kong children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature published before 2014 related to the oral health of Hong Kong children, supplemented with information accessed from government-archived oral health reports, was sourced using electronic databases and hand searches. Dental caries experience, periodontal health, enamel defects, and malocclusion of Hong Kong children were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A decline in the prevalence and extent of dental caries was observed among Hong Kong schoolchildren and adolescents after the 1960s. Among preschool children, however, dental caries remains common and the extent appears to have increased. The periodontal health of Hong Kong children remains unsatisfactory. Recently, enamel defects/dental fluorosis have considerably reduced. Information about malocclusion in Hong Kong children is limited.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since the 1960s, following public health policies, health promotion activities, and the introduction of a School Dental Care Service, improvements in the oral health of schoolchildren are evident. Nonetheless, the oral health of preschool children remains a concern. Policies and practices to improve the oral health of preschool children in Hong Kong are required.
authors: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors: G Hm
authors: GH
authors: Lee
authors: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors: H N
authors: HN
authors: Pang
authors: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: McGrath
authors: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors: C Ky
authors: CK
authors: Yiu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003729:Dental Care; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003743:Dental Enamel; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology; D006291:Health Policy; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health
keywords: Child, preschool; Dental caries; Malocclusion; Periodontal diseases