THE ORAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN HEIDELBERG, VICTORIA, 1991

Changing patterns of oral health were investigated in a selected popul ation of children and adolescents in Heidelberg, Victoria. Oral health was examined in terms of caries experience, oral hygiene and gingival condition. The findings were compared with the results of a study con ducted in the same area 10 years previously. The findings were also re lated to sociodemographic variables such as age, sex, and ethnic and s ocioeconomic background. A random sample of 403 children and adolescen ts aged 6-8 years, 11-13 years, and 14-16 years were selected from 5 p rimary schools and 3 secondary schools in the area. A questionnaire el iciting sociodemographic information was administered and an intra-ora l examination was conducted on each subject. Dental caries was recorde d in terms of DMF-T. Oral hygiene was assessed by the Plaque Index and gingival status by the Gingival Index. Results showed that subjects f rom this study demonstrated improved oral health compared with subject s from the previous study. In 1981, 25 per cent of 6-8 year olds and 9 per cent of 14-16 year olds were caries free. In 1991, 92 per cent of 6-8 year olds and 36 per cent of 14-16 year olds were caries free. Pr edictably, it was also found that age was significantly related to car ies level, oral hygiene and gingival condition.