Abstract
Purpose
To study the caries status of 5, 12 and 15-year-old Greek children, assess how disease parameters are related to socio-demographic indicators and identify relevant trends at the national level.
Methods
A stratified cluster sample of 3702 children in total was randomly selected and examined clinically for caries (ICDAS II criteria). Caries experience was outlined by adapting ICDAS0–6 criteria to the d/D component of the WHO dmf/DMF index configuration. Percentages (%) of caries experience-free children, of children with initial caries (ICDAS1–2), and the mean d1–2t/D1–2T, d3–6mft/D3–6MFT and d3–6mfs/D3–6MFS indices were calculated. The probability of presenting with d1–2t/D1–2T ≥ 1 was assessed by binary logistic regression analysis, whereas negative binomial regression models examined the effect of socio-demographic parameters on d3–6mfs/D3–6MFS indices (level of significance: p ≤ 0.05).
Results
60.1%, 48.1%, and 34.7% of the 5, 12, and 15-year-old children, respectively, had no caries experience at the defect level (d3–6mft/D3–6MFT = 0). Initial lesions (ICDAS1–2) were detected in 17.7%, 19.3% and 17.4% of the 5, 12 and 15-year-olds, accordingly. Mean d1–2t/D1–2T was 0.93, 1.70, and 2.51, whereas mean d3–6mft/D3–6MFT was 1.48, 1.61, and 2.46 for the 5, 12, and 15-year-olds, respectively. Children with higher educated parents and 15-year-old urban residents exhibited significantly less caries experience at the defect level. Initial caries lesions presented a significantly higher probability of being detected in urban-residing 5- and 15-year-olds, while no consistent trend could be identified for parental education level. Caries prevalence and experience levels declined for all age groups in ten years.
Conclusion
Although the dental health of Greek children has improved disparities remain, calling for organised primary and secondary preventive interventions.
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Data availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are indebted to all those board members and coordinators of the local dental societies who, along with the calibrated examiners contributed to this Pan-Hellenic Pathfinder survey, which was conducted under the auspices of the Hellenic Dental Association and the scientific coordination of Prof. C. J. Oulis, in collaboration with the Dental Schools of Athens and Thessaloniki and funded by a National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) Program (#5402/29-05-2013).
Funding
The present epidemiological study was funded by a National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) Program.
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Considering each author’s individual contribution to the study, ID contributed to the data analysis and interpretation, drafted the manuscript; EDB who was a member of the scientific committee that organised the pathfinder survey contributed to the study design, data interpretation and critically revised the manuscript; KK who was a member of the scientific committee that organised the pathfinder survey, contributed to the study design and data interpretation; KNA contributed to the data interpretation, critically revised the manuscript; CR contributed to the data interpretation; MS contributed to the data interpretation; OP contributed to the data interpretation; AP contributed to the data analysis and interpretation, critically revised the manuscript; CJO who was the Scientific Coordinator of the National Pathfinder Survey, contributed to the study design, data interpretation and critically revised the manuscript.
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Ethical approval from the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Dentistry of the University of Athens was obtained before the clinical examinations (permission number: 200/21/03/2013 for the 5-year-old children, 201/21/03/2013 for the 12-year-old children and 202/21/03/2013 for the 15-year-old children).
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Parental consent was obtained before the clinical examinations.
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Diamanti, I., Berdouses, E.D., Kavvadia, K. et al. Caries prevalence and caries experience (ICDAS II criteria) of 5-, 12- and 15-year-old Greek children in relation to socio-demographic risk indicators. Trends at the national level in a period of a decade. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 22, 619–631 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-020-00599-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-020-00599-7