According to the WHO’s oral health report of 2003, distribution and severity of oral diseases varies in different parts of the world and within the same country or region. The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution and severity of dental caries amongst 4- and 5-year-old children in various provinces and regions in South Africa.
Methods:
Caries data for the 4- and 5-year old group was retrieved from the South African National Children’s Oral Health Survey (1999-2001) databank and analysed by way of frequency distribution tables.
Results:
The distribution and severity of dental caries among 4- and 5-year-old children varies in different provinces and in different regions within the provinces. The least affected province was Limpopo, where 19.9% of the children with dmft >2 had 79% of the disease. Western Cape province was the most affected where 59.6% of the children with dmft >2 had 94.4% of the disease.
Conclusion:
The variation in caries distribution and severity in different regions calls for different approaches. The population approach should be adopted in regions where the caries load is distributed amongst the majority of the children. The high risk approach should be adopted where the majority of the diseases burden is present in the minority of the children. This strategy will ensure the optimal and effective use of resources in reducing the prevalence of oral diseases.