Methods: Between October 2001 and February 2002 a cross-sectional dental epidemiology survey of a sample of 721 5-year-olds was undertaken in schools having at least 25 per cent of pupils from black or minority ethnic groups. Background data on participating children were obtained from school records, including: ethnic origin, mothers' ability to speak English, religion, and demographic data. Statistical analyses included two way analysis of variance to determine the effect of ethnicity after adjusting for socio-economic factors.
Results: Complete data were available for 649 (90%) children. The main groups of the sample were white (52%) and Pakistani (33%) backgrounds, and other ethnic minority groups (15%). Based on repeat observations, clinical reliability was good (Kappa = 0.77). The caries experience of Pakistani children (dmft = 4.1; 95%CI 3.6 to 4.6) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the white children (dmft = 2.3; 95%CI 1.9 to 2.62). In addition only 25% (95% CI 17 to 34) of the Pakistani children had “no obvious decay”, this being significantly lower (p < 0.001) than their white contemporaries (48%, 95% CI 39 to 58). Furthermore, Pakistani ethnic origin was associated with significantly poorer oral health (p < 0.001), after adjusting for socio-economic deprivation.
Conclusion: While the oral health of Greater Glasgow's children is poor, it is the underlying and persisting inequalities that are of most concern. Children of deprived backgrounds have worse oral health than their affluent counterparts and, in addition, over and above this effect, children of Pakistani ethnic minority background have poorer oral health.