Caries in 5-year-olds in Malaysia

Objective: The Malaysian oral health survey on 5-year-olds in 2005 (NOHPS 2005) assessed caries prevalence and severity for the country's oral health profile. Methods: A cross-sectional two-stage systematic sampling design stratified by location was used, with probability proportionate to size. A total of 16,192 children were recruited; data was weighted for an estimated 573,000 population. Results: Males comprised 50.9%, with majority of population (60.4%) in urban areas. The major ethnic groups were Malays (59.8%), Chinese (20.7%), and Indian/Pakistani (5.0%). Caries prevalence was 75.7% (95% CI 74.14-77.22). Mean dmft was 5.57 (95% CI 5.36-5.79), with disparity by location (urban 4.52; 95% CI 4.25-4.79; rural 6.91; 95% 6.91-7.51) and by ethnic group – best in the Indian/Pakistani group (mean dmft 1.82; 95% CI 1.52-2.12) and worst in the Malays (6.10; 95% CI 5.89-6.31) and Indigenous groups (8.07; 95%CI 7.69-8.44). Decayed teeth were largely unrestored (mean ‘d' 5.2; 95% CI 5.04-5.45); with mean ‘f' at 0.21(95% CI 0.16-0.26). Majority (61.2%) had dmft ³ 3, with 24.8% with dmft ³ 10. About 27% had permanent teeth (mean 3.2, range 1-12), 4.6% with DMFT>0. Conclusion: Caries control in young children continues to be a major challenge, and there is slight improvement from baseline 1995 data despite a preschool preventive program. Malaysia grapples with appropriate population approaches for very young children, weighing pragmatic dental care for the dentition against the wider need to ensure children's continued long-term acceptance of such care.