An assessment of dental caries among young Aboriginal children in New South Wales, Australia: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Limited research has been undertaken in Australia to assess the dental status of pre-school Aboriginal children. This cross-sectional study records the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) and surfaces (dmfs) of pre-school Aboriginal children living in different locations in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Methods

A convenience sample of young children from seven Aboriginal communities in rural, remote and metropolitan areas of NSW, was recruited. One calibrated examiner recorded the dmft/s of children with written parental consent.

Results

196 children were invited to participate and 173 children aged two to five years were examined, a response rate of 88.3%. Forty percent (n = 69) of the children were diagnosed with dental caries with a me

SUBMITTER: Smith L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4696270 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature