Key Points
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The UK Child Dental Health survey of 2003 demonstrates an increasing awareness of oral health among parents of all age groups of children, but there are still social class differences.
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Between half and two thirds of all children reported using electric toothbrushes, and the use of mouthwash and sugar-free gum was reported by over 40% of 15-year-olds.
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Parents' preferences for treatment of permanent and primary teeth differ, with over 90% preferring a restorative option for permanent teeth compared with 28% for primary teeth.
Key Points
Children's Survey
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1
The dentinal caries experience of children in the United Kingdom, 2003
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2
Non-carious tooth conditions in children in the UK, 2003
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3
Patterns of care and service use amongst children in the UK, 2003
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4
Oral health habits amongst children in the United Kingdom in 2003
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5
The reported impact of oral condition on children in the United Kingdom, 2003
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6
The orthodontic condition of children in the United Kingdom, 2003
Abstract
Background The 2003 Children's Dental Health Survey is the fourth in a series of decennial national children's dental health surveys.
Aims This paper presents data on parental attitudes towards the care of children's teeth and gums, reported oral hygiene behaviours and clinical measures of hygiene and periodontal health in 2003 and highlights trends since previous surveys.
Method A total of 10,381 children were examined in schools by trained and calibrated examiners. Four measures of hygiene and periodontal health were recorded as part of the clinical examination. In addition, 3,342 questionnaires were completed by parents of a sub-sample of these children. The questionnaire enabled information to be collected about reported oral health behaviours and parental attitudes.
Results About three quarters of children across all age groups are reported to brush their teeth twice daily. A range of oral health products was reported as being used in addition to toothbrushes and toothpaste. There is a trend in parental preferences towards restoration of teeth rather than extractions and towards a better understanding of dental caries prevention. Although overall a higher proportion of children in this survey appeared to have gingival inflammation, plaque and calculus than 10 and 20 years ago, there was no change in the proportion of older children with gingivitis.
Conclusions Dental practitioners have a role to play in reinforcing these positive attitudes and encouraging appropriate and effective oral hygiene behaviours in their child patients.
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Acknowledgements
This work was undertaken by a consortium comprising the Office for National Statistics and the Dental Schools of the Universities of Birmingham, Cardiff, Dundee and Newcastle and the Dental health Services Research Unit, Dundee, who received funding from the United Kingdom Health Department; the views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Health Department.
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White, D., Chadwick, B., Nuttall, N. et al. Oral health habits amongst children in the United Kingdom in 2003. Br Dent J 200, 487–491 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4813523
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4813523
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