DOES THE ETHNICITY OF TEENAGE CHILDREN INFLUENCE ORAL SELF-PERCEPTIONAND PREVALENCE OF DENTAL DISEASE

Aim The primary aim was to evaluate the effect of ethnicity, social de privation and oral health on oral self perceptions of 14-15-year-old A sians and Whites. A secondary aim was to assess the influence of ethni city and social deprivation on oral treatment need in the same sample. Design A cross-sectional epidemiological study. Data source A stratif ied, random sample of 408 14-15-year-old Asian and White children from schools in Manchester. Method Information was collected on oral self perceptions using a questionnaire and on oral treatment need with a cl inical examination. Results Multivariate data analysis revealed that o ral treatment need, but not ethnicity or social deprivation, was an im portant predictive variable with respect to oral self perceptions. Eth nicity was the only variable to influence periodontal treatment need. Social deprivation influenced the level of untreated caries. Conclusio ns 1. Socially deprived children have higher caries levels than their more affluent counterparts and this is evident regardless of ethnic ba ckground. 2. Although Asian 14-15-year-old children have a higher peri odontal treatment need than Whites, there was no ethnic influence on h ow they perceive their oral health. 3. Oral treatment need is an impor tant factor with respect to oral self perceptions.