Community Dental Health

cover art

Cover Date:
March 2010
Print ISSN:
0265 539X
Vol:
27
Issue:
1

Caries prevalence and intra-oral pattern among young children in Ajman.

Objective: To describe the prevalence and intra-oral pattern of caries among young children in Ajman, UAE. Methods: A one-stage cluster sampling was used to randomly select children aged 5 or 6 years old who were enrolled in public or private schools in Ajman. Clinical examinations for dental caries were conducted by a single examiner using WHO criteria. Results: The total number of children sampled was 1297, of whom 1036 (79.9%) were dentally examined. The prevalence of caries (defined as dmft >0) in 5- and 6-year-olds was 72.9% (95% CI, 61.8, 83.9) and 80.0% (95% CI, 76.0, 84.4) respectively, with mean dmft scores of 4.0 (sd, 4.1) and 4.9 (sd, 4.3) respectively (P<0.05). The teeth most frequently affected by caries were mandibular second molars (38.6% of those on the left, and 36.9% of those on the right) and the least affected were mandibular central incisors (2.1% and 2.0% respectively). The prevalence of bilateral molar caries (that is, contralateral teeth both affected) was relatively high, being 29.7% for mandibular second molars and 28.3% for mandibular first molars. Conclusions: Dental caries prevalence and severity in 5- and 6-year-olds in Ajman were high, with the lower molars and upper central incisors most commonly affected by caries. There is an urgent need for oral health programs targeted at the treatment and prevention of dental caries in these children.

Key words: Caries, children, intra-oral pattern, prevalence, U.A.E.

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£
Page Start
109
Page End
113
Authors
R. Hashim, S.M. Williams, W.M. Thomson, M.A. Awad

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  1. Acknowledgement of Referees
  2. 1
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  1. Editorial - Improving services for cleft lip and palate. A work in progress
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  1. Preventive care and recall intervals. Targeting of services in child dental care in Norway
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  1. National survey of oral health status of children and adults in Turkey
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  1. Barriers to restorative care as perceived by dental practitioners in Tanzania
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  1. Social inequality in perceived oral health among Sri Lankan adolescents
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  1. Complications following oral piercing. A study among 201 young adults in Strasbourg, France.
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  1. A study on neonatal factors and eruption time of primary teeth
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  1. Prevalence of aggressive periodontitis in 15-18 year old schoolchildren in Tehran, Iran
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  1. Chewing stick use among African immigrants in West Philadelphia: implications for oral health providers
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  1. Caries prevalence and intra-oral pattern among young children in Ajman.
  2. 109
  3. 113