Dental Health Experience of Children in North West England

Objectives: To acquire data on dental health experience and behaviour of children and their parents, and to ascertain the dental services available to these families. Methods: A questionnaire was sent home from school to parents of children taking part in the 5-year-old dental health survey in North West England in 2003/04. The first part of the questionnaire focused on children's dental health experience and behaviour, while the second part was on those of their parents. Detailed analysis was carried out in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust where a census survey was undertaken. Results: A total of 2730 children in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale were examined, with 1835 questionnaires returned. Response rate was 67.2%. Most children (79.6%) and parents (78.2%) reported that they had visited a dentist in the last year. Some 61.3% of adults had received treatment under National Health Service (NHS). Children's visit to dentist was significantly related to parents' visit to dentist (p < 0.001). Majority of children (71.2%) brushed their teeth twice a day. Mean dmft is significantly lower (p < 0.001) in children having their teeth brushed twice a day, compared to those brushed once a day. Some 59.7% of children first started having their teeth cleaned under 1-year-old. Children who have teeth cleaned from an early age have significantly better dental health (p < 0.001). Most children (83.5%) cleaned their own teeth. Children who had toothbrushing under supervision had better dental health than those without; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Over three-quarters of children and their parents reported that they had visited a dentist in the last year. However, more than one-third of the parents did not receive treatments under NHS. Both frequency of brushing and children's age to commence brushing played an important role to their dental health.