Dental caries experience and use of dental services among preschool children in Ajman, UAE

Objective. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and severity of dental caries in the primary dentition of young children in Ajman, UAE, and investigate its association with sociodemographic characteristics and use of dental services.Methods. A cluster-sampling approach was used to randomly select children aged 5 or 6 years who were enrolled in public or private schools. Clinical examinations for caries were conducted by a single examiner using World Health Organization criteria. Parents completed questionnaires seeking information on socioeconomic background and dental service utilization. Zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression modelling was used to identify risk markers and risk indicators for caries experience.Results. The prevalence of dental caries in the sample was high 76.1%. The average dmfs score 10.2. Caries severity was greater among older children and among male children of less educated mothers. Emirati (local) children had higher caries severity than others. Children who had higher level of caries visited the dentist more frequently than other children whose visits were for check-up only.Conclusions. Dental caries prevalence and severity in young children in Ajman are high, and socioeconomic characteristics and dental utilization are important determinants of their dental caries experience. There is an urgent need for oral health programmes targeted at the treatment and underlying causes of dental caries in these children

The relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and dental health knowledge and attitudes of parents with young children.

Objective To determine if parental socio-demographic characteristics are associated with dental knowledge and attitude. Design A questionnaire survey of 500 consecutive parents with children aged approximately 8-months, attending clinics in 1999/2000, in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, for health visitor distraction-hearing tests. Outcome measures Scores were obtained for dental knowledge and attitudes. The socio-demographic variables of parental ethnicity, age, education and area of residence were used to determine any associations. Results Parental age ranged between 16–46 years. Child age ranged between 7–11 months. Significant differences were detected for parental dental knowledge according to ethnicity (P = 0.003), educational status (P = 0.000), and area of residence (P = 0.016). Significant differences were also found in dental attitudes; ethnicity (P = 0.000), educational status (P = 0.004) and area of residence (P = 0.005). Parental age was not significant for either knowledge or attitude. Conclusions Lack of further education, being Asian and living in a deprived area means parents have less chances of high dental knowledge and positive dental attitudes