Analysis of the changes in children dental treatments in Euskadi

Objectives: To evaluate the causes of modification of the children dental treatments during 15 years. The Public Program of children dental care was begun by the Basque Government in 1990 with children of 7 years and in 1998 already it covered all the children with 7-15 years included. From the beginning there is an important flow of emigrants. Methods: The population in 1998, year in which all the ages of 7 to 15 was covered, was 162.213 children/year and in 2005, 145.000. The supplied treatments were: application of sealants, fillings, pulp treatment and exodontias. The treatments were provided by the public sector or by private providers. Results: Expressed by each 100 children/year. 1991: sealants 130,2; fillings 83,0; pulp treatment 0,28; exodontias 0,32. 1998: sealants 71,4; fillings 36,4; pulp treatment 0,75; exodontias 0,84. 2005: sealants 42,2; fillings 21,9; pulp treatment 0,39; exodontias 0,46. The evolution of the children without caries was: 1988: 7 years old 86%; 12 y.o. 31,2%; 14 y.o. 17,4%. 1998: 7 years old 94%; 12 y.o. 57%; 14 y.o. 41,7%. Discussion: The comparison between 1998 and 2005 show a decrease of the application of sealants, fillings and pulp treatments throughout the program. The increase in the exodontias rates was caused because in 1998 it is covered to the entire group up to 15 years old and for the increase of emigrants. Also there are differences between public and private sector, with greater rates of intervention in the public sector, because it mainly takes care of emigrants who present a greater pathology. Conclusion: The rates of decay have decreased sensibly in the Basque Country in the native population but with the massive arrival of young emigrants, we noticed that this group presents high decay index and periodontal pathology.