Community Dental Health

cover art

Cover Date:
March 2009
Print ISSN:
0265 539X
Vol:
26
Issue:
1

Dental caries prevalence and distribution among preschoolers in Singapore

Objective: To describe the prevalence, severity and distribution of dental caries among preschoolers in Singapore. Basic research design: population-based, cross-sectional study. Setting: 13 randomly selected People’s Action Party Community Foundation (PCF) Education Centers, the main provider of preschool education in Singapore. Participants: 1,782 children aged 3-6 years. Main outcome measures: The caries status was evaluated by using WHO examination procedures and diagnostic criteria. Results: About 40% children (26%, 37%, and 49% for 3-4, 4-5, and 5-6 year-olds, respectively) were affected by caries. The mean (SD) deft and defs were 1.54 (2.75) and 3.30 (7.49), respectively. About 90% of the affected teeth were decayed teeth. A significantly skewed distribution of caries lesions was revealed, indicating that 16% children with high caries activity (deft≥4) were carrying 78% lesions. Rampant caries, defined as caries affecting the smooth surfaces of two or more maxillary incisors, was found in 16.5% of children. About 61% of affected surfaces were smooth surfaces. Malays and boys tended to have more rampant caries. Higher caries severity and treatment need were found among Malays and children in the low socio-economic group. Conclusions: Caries is a severe oral health problem for Singaporean preschoolers, especially in the Malay community and among children with low economic status.

Key words: Dental caries, preschoolers, prevalence, Singapore

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
12
Page End
17
Authors
XL. Gao, C.Y.S. Hsu, T. Loh, D. Koh, H.B. Hwarng, Y. Xu

Articles from this issue

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  1. Editorial - Closing the gap in a generation: Health equity through action on the social determinants of health. A Report of the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH) 2008.
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  1. Referees 2009
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  3. 4

  1. Predictive tool for estimating the potential effect of water fluoridation on dental caries
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  3. 11

  1. Dental caries prevalence and distribution among preschoolers in Singapore
  2. 12
  3. 17

  1. Oral health in German children, adolescents, adults and senior citizens in 2005
  2. 18
  3. 22

  1. Caries prevalence and fluoride use in low SES children in Clermont-Ferrand (France)
  2. 23
  3. 28

  1. Previous radiographic experience of children referred for dental extractions under general anaesthesia in the UK.
  2. 29
  3. 31

  1. The prevalence of dental caries and fissure sealants in 12 year old children by disadvantaged status in Dublin (Ireland).
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  3. 37

  1. Childhood growth and dental caries
  2. 38
  3. 42

  1. Measurement of attitudes of UK dental practitioners to core job constructs.
  2. 43
  3. 51

  1. Dental general anaesthesia - will the service disappear? A pilot study
  2. 52
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  1. Orthodontic treatment need and oral health-related quality among children
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  3. 61

  1. Short Communication - Changing dental caries levels in the 1980’s, 1990’s and 2005 among children of a Jerusalem region.
  2. 62
  3. 64