The dental health of pre-school children in a deprived urban community in Glasgow

Objective This study investigated the dental health status of pre-school ch ildren in a deprived urban community in Greater Glasgow. The aim was to gat her baseline data to support the need for a multi-agency dental health prog ramme for this age group and against which trends in dental health could be measured over time. Method A defined deprived community was identified and an area profile compiled. Children attending the five nursery schools in a nd around the area were examined using the standardised criteria adopted by BASCD/SHBDEP. Results Two hundred and forty-eight children were examined r epresenting 75.8% of those on the nursery rolls. Caries prevalence and mean dmft rose from 64% and 3.14 for three to three and a half-year-old childre n to 86% and 6.14 for four and a half- to five-year-old children. This latt er figure was higher than the Scottish and Health Board averages for five-y ear-old children (2.93 and 3.5 respectively). Those from the most deprived postcode sector had significantly worse dental health than those resident i n other areas (mean dmft = 6.50 compared with 3.77). They also had signific antly more unrestorable lesions. Overall, the Care Index (ft/dmft x 100) wa s 3.03 which is less than the Scottish average of 7.8. Conclusion The denta l health of nursery school children in and around the Possilpark area of Gl asgow is worse than both the Scottish and health board averages for five-ye ar-old children. Those resident in the most deprived sector of the communit y have significantly worse dental health. The main components of dmft were untreated decay and missing teeth. The Care Index was low.