ORAL HEALTH IN ADOLESCENTS FROM A SMALL FRENCH TOWN

In France, caries are more prevalent in rural areas than in large citi es. This study analyzed the relationship between number of oral health indices and some known risk factors (toothbrushing, sugar consumption , saliva components) and sociodemographic factors in adolescents from a small town. The sample included 112 children aged 12-14 in the north -east of France. School marks was found to be better linked with denta l caries indices than the socio-occupational category of parents: ging ival index (GI), DMFS, DMFT and caries severity (CS) significantly inc reased with decreasing school marks; oral plaque was related to socio- occupational of parents. The analysis using the regression method show ed that the variance explained by the various factors studied was mode st (between 23 and 30%) for GI, initial caries sites (IS), DS, DMFS, D MFT and CS, and was small for plaque (5%) and calculus (3%). This woul d be due in part to the wide dispersion of these indices. The sex had a non-significant regression coefficient for all oral health indices i nvestigated. For GI, only mutants streptococci (MS) and plaque had a s ignificant regression coefficient. Calculus was explained by any facto r considered. Only MS had a significant part in plaque. IS was explain ed by MS, toothbrushing and age. For DS, only toothbrushing, MS and sw eet drinks during meals had a significant part. DMFS and DMFT were exp lained only by MS and age. CS was explained by MS, age, salivary buffe r pH, salivary flow rate, and toothbrushing.