A 16-year-survey of 6-year-old children dental caries

Dental caries is a widespread disease in a global level, most epidemiological studies were limited in cross-sectional survey, and little was done in longitudinal study. Objectives: to survey the incidence of deciduous tooth and epidemic trend in longitudinal observation. Material and Method: 3021 6-year-old children in elementary school affiliated to Huazhong Primary School from 1987 to 2002, constantly for 16 years. Results: the results showed that the carious prevalence 6-year-old children was 84.5 percent in 1987, 61.2 percent in 2002. The dmft was 4.12 in 1987 and 2.78 in 2002. The dmfs was 9.67 in 1987 and 5.45 in 2002. The indexes were on the decline year by year. The filled-tooth rate of deciduous fluctuated over 10 percent. The average level was approach to the result of the Second National Oral Health Survey in 1995 which showed that the caries prevalence of 5-year-old children was 76.55 percent and the dmft was 4.48. But it is far from our target in the program of national dental health care for children shows that the non-caries prevalence of 5-year-old children should reach to 40 percent and the filled -tooth rate should reach to 30 percent. Conclusion: the results suggested that it is urgent to enhance oral health education, to increase the investment in oral prevention, reduce the caries prevalence and improve the filled rate.