The present study analyzed the prevalence of dental caries as well as associations of dental health and family competence among 7-year-old children and their families. Dental caries status was the outcome variable of the 7-year prospective follow-up study. Pre-tested questionnaires were used to gather data individually from the parents at six points in time (at the public maternity health-care clinic during the mother's pregnancy and at childbirth, at the well-baby clinic at 18 months, and at ages 3, 5, and 7 years).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim was to elucidate whether variables recorded in early childhood would have a long-lasting predictive value of poor dental health at the age of 10 years in a prospectively followed Finnish population-based cohort setting. The second aim was to find new tools for preventive work in order to improve dental health among children. Poor dental health (dmft + DMFT >or= 5) at 10 years of age was associated with child's nocturnal juice drinking at 18 months.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to measure the quality of children's dental healthcare from the oral health records of 10-year-olds and from the numbers of children in risk groups. The focus was on dental healthcare and markers of dental records. A representative sample of women expecting their first child was selected in southwestern Finland.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of the study was to examine the caries experience of 10-year-olds as measured with dmft/DMFT, to explain how caries increases by the age of 10 years, and which factors would explain caries increments. The setting was a representative population sample of first-born children in southwestern Finland. Dental health at 10 years of age was found to be good in 45%, fairly good in 40% and poor in 15% of the children.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe objective was to study dental health among nine-year-old long-term ill and disabled children and their matched controls using DMFT/dmft-indices (decayed-missing-filled-teeth, of both permanent and deciduous teeth); to analyze similarities and differences of their family factors; the children's dental health habits which include dietary factors; to assess capabilities of the health care personnel in the identification of the risk groups and in the provision of services; and finally to investigate family satisfaction with the dental health care services provided. One dentist (M-L M) routinely carried out the clinical examinations of the children using the DMFT(dmft)-index. Only cavities extending to dentin were included in the DMF and dmf indices.
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