Dental caries, contact with dental services and deprivation in young children: their relationship at a small area level

Objective To measure the relationship between tooth decay, contact with den tal services and deprivation at electoral ward level. Setting The study was carried out in 1998 in Ellesmere Port in the North We st of England. Subjects and Materials All children younger than six years resident in Elle smere Port registered with GDS services and those using CDS services were m atched against the HA population register to identify unregistered children . Rates for children aged 3-5 years 'in contact' with primary dental care s ervices, whether CDS or GDS, were calculated at ward level. One calibrated examiner examined all 5-year-old children in Ellesmere Port and dmft scores were calculated at ward level. Ward deprivation was measured using the Jar man score. Bivariate linear regressions at ward level were performed in tur n between: dmft and Jarman score; rates for 3-5-year-olds in contact with d ental services and Jarman score; and dmft and rates for 3-5-year-olds in co ntact with dental services. Results A significant linear relationship was observed between dmft and Jar man score (P=0.02, R2=0.43). Significant inverse relationships were found b etween rates far 3-5-year-olds in cant act with dental services and Jarman score (P=0.001, R2=0.67), and also between dmft and rates for 3-5-year-olds in contact with dental services (P=0.002, R2=0.65). Conclusions A strong inverse relationship was found between dental caries a nd contact with primary dental care services at electoral ward level. This relationship needs to be explored over a wider geographical area to establi sh if it is consistent and independent of deprivation.