Oral health of Bulang preschool children in Southwest China

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the oral health status and behaviors of the 5-year-old Bulang children. Methods: An oral health survey was performed in 2011-12 with ethical approval (UW-11-377). A sample of 5-year-old Bulang children living in Yunnan Province, Southwest China, was selected using a multi-stage and stratified sampling method. One trained dentist examined the children in kindergartens in towns (urban areas) or in villages in rural areas using dental mirrors attached to an intra-oral LED light and ball-ended CPI probes. Tooth status was assessed using criteria recommended by the World Health Organization. A parental questionnaire was used to study the children’s oral health related behaviours.

Results: A total of 892 children, 50% being boys, were surveyed. Half of them lived in towns and the others lived in villages. There were 758 (85%) of the children had dental caries experience. The mean dmft score was 5.9±4.9. The mean dmft scores of boys and girls were similar, 6.0±5.0 and 5.8±4.9 (P=0.49). The children living in towns had a higher mean dmft score than that of the children living in villages (6.4±5.0 vs. 5.4±4.8, p<0.01). Only 21% of the urban children started brushing teeth before 2 years old, while 63% of the rural children never or seldom brushed their teeth even at 5 years old. A higher proportion of children residing in towns brushed their teeth at least once daily than that of children residing in villages (58% vs. 20%, p<0.001).

Conclusions: The dental caries experience and experience of the 5-year-old Bulang children in Southwest China was high. The children living in urban areas had better toothbrushing habit than those living in rural areas.