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A marked difference in caries prevalence between 5‐year‐old children in two areas of Staffordshire, England
Author(s) -
Doyle A. J.
Publication year - 1977
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.1600-0528.1977.tb01634.x
Subject(s) - medicine , rural area , significant difference , dentistry , social class , fluoride , demography , environmental health , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , pathology , sociology , political science , law
The purpose of this study was to compare the dental caries experience of 5‐year‐old children in an urban and rural area of Staffordshire, England. The populations comprised 365 children and 206 children, respectively. 161 children in the urban area and 124 children from the rural area were examined. Those in the rural area had 44 % less dental caries experience ( P < 0.01). The mean dmf of children with good dental cleanliness was similar in each area but there was a 39 % and 33 % interarea difference between those with fair and poor standards of dental cleanliness. A larger proportion in the rural area belonged to social classes 1 + 2 and fewer to social classes 4 + 5. A significant difference in dmf ( P < 0.01) between the areas in social classes 3N and 3M was found. Water supplies had less than 0.20 parts/10 6 fluoride. The interarea difference in caries prevalence cannot be fully explained by consideration of the variables of dental cleanliness, social class and waterborne fluoride. It is hypothesized that tooth resistance may differ between the areas. The study will be repeated to confirm the findings.