Research abstract
British Dental Journal 200, 379 - 384 (2006)
Published online: 8 April 2006 | doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4813424
Non-carious tooth conditions in children in the UK, 2003
B L Chadwick1, D A White2, A J Morris3, D Evans4 & N B Pitts5
- Reports 10 year trend findings for non carious tooth conditions in children in the United Kingdom.
- The downward trend of accidental tooth damage continues but the reasons for this are not clear.
- Tooth surface loss continues to be a problem for children in the United Kingdom.
- There is no evidence to suggest that enamel opacities are increasing in children in the United Kingdom.
Children's Survey
- The dentinal caries experience of children in the United Kingdom, 2003
- Non-carious tooth conditions in children in the UK, 2003
- Patterns of care and service use amongst children in the UK, 2003
- Oral health habits amongst children in the United Kingdom in 2003
- The reported impact of oral condition on children in the United Kingdom, 2003
- The orthodontic condition of children in the United Kingdom, 2003
Abstract
Background The 2003 Children's Dental Health Survey is the fourth of the 10-yearly surveys of children's oral health.
Aim To report the prevalence of three non-carious tooth conditions in children in the UK.
Method A representative sample of children five, eight, 12 and 15 years of age were examined by calibrated examiners in schools across the UK. The dental examination included accidental damage to incisors, tooth surface loss (TSL) and enamel opacities (age 12 only). A postal questionnaire sought parental and child views on marks on teeth which could not be removed by brushing.
Results The proportion of children sustaining accidental damage to permanent incisors decreased to 11% of 12 and 13% of 15-year-olds, but the majority of accidental damage remained untreated. TSL was found on 53% of five-year-olds and on approximately a third of 12 and 15-year-olds. There was a statistically significant change for TSL on permanent teeth at age 15 where 27% upper incisors had TSL palatally in 1993 compared to 33% in 2003. Thirty-four per cent of 12-year-old children had enamel opacities on one or more of their teeth compared with 36% in 1993.
Conclusions Tooth surface loss remains a common finding in children in the UK. A large proportion of accidental damage to teeth remains untreated.
- Reader in Paediatric Dentistry, Cardiff University
- Senior Lecturer in Dental Public Health, University of Birmingham
- Lecturer in Dental Public Health, University of Birmingham
- Consultant in Dental Public Health, Newcastle & North Tyneside Health Authority
- Professor and Unit Director Dental Health Services Research Unit, University of Dundee
Correspondence to: B L Chadwick1 Dental Health & Biological Sciences, Dental School, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XY e-mail: Chadwickbl@cardiff.ac.uk
