Social Disparities in Dental Caries among Head Start Children

Objectives: To evaluate social disparities in dental caries among Head Start children from cities in Northeast Ohio.
Methods: A chart review was conducted of 195 patients enrolled in various Head Start sites located throughout Northeast Ohio. The number of decayed primary teeth (dt) was recorded as the outcome. Social disparities in this study were measured by whether the fluoridated water was supplied in the city and the number of dentists who accepted Medicaid per 10,000 children (D_density). To control potential confounders, age, gender, number of present primary teeth, and the population of the city per kilo meter (P_density) were used for analysis.
Results: The mean (SD) of the patients’ age was of 3.04 (1.13) years (range was from 7 months to 7 years old). Ninety-one (46.67%) were girls. Eighteen cities were observed. Three cities were not supplied with fluoridated water. The mean (SD) and range of D_density were 80.40 (150.25) and 0 to 624.18, respectively. The mean (SD) and range of P-density were 1428.30(1051.15) and 540 to 4825.77, respectively. ANOVA analyses were conducted for the differences of dt among cities and indicated significant differences (F=2.38, p=0.002). Regression model analyses for dt indicated that fluoridated water supply was negatively associated with dt (a significant regression unstandardized coefficients (B) (SE) and 95% CI of fluoridated water was -0.772 (0.284) and -1.33 to -0.211). However, B of D-density did not indicate significant level- (B(SE)=0.001(0.001) and 95% CI: -0.002 to 0.004).
Conclusions: Fluoridated water supply as a social disparity among Head Start children was indicated.