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Dental caries in Faeroese children aged 5–13 years
Author(s) -
Thylstrup A.,
Poulsen S.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0528.1976.tb02110.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dentition , dentistry , urbanization , population , permanent dentition , environmental health , demography , sociology , economics , economic growth
— Before the Act of Free Trade was passed in 1856, dental caries was negligible on the Faeroe Islands. In 1936–37 a survey revealed an increasing prevalence of caries in urban compared with rural areas. The present study was undertaken in order to investigate the prevalence of dental caries among Faeroese children aged 5–13 years in relation to degree of urbanization and presence of a regular School Dental Service. Every third child was selected by a systematic sampling procedure from the total population of children aged 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 years. 88% of the intended sample was examined in school dental clinics by one dentist according to standardized criteria. It was not possible to demonstrate any differences in mean DMFS and dmfs between children according to degree of urbanization and presence of regular School Dental Service. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the School Dental Service as practiced at the moment is unable to reduce the amount of unfilled teeth. The very high prevalence of caries, especially in the primary dentition, is discussed in relation to planning of future dental health services on the Faeroe Islands.