Dental caries among children visiting a mobile dental clinic in South Central Kentucky: a pooled cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundDental caries is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases affecting a large portion of children in the United States. The prevalence of childhood dental caries in Kentucky is among the highest in the nation. The purposes of this study are to (1) compare sociodemographic differences between caries and no caries groups and (2) investigate factors associated with untreated dental caries among children who visited a mobile dental clinic in South Central Kentucky.MethodsStudy subjects were children aged 6 to 15 years who participated in the school-based dental sealant program through the mobile dental clinic operated by the Institute for Rural Health at Western Kentucky University between September 2006 and May 2011 (n = 2,453). Descriptive statistics were calculated for sociodemographic factors (age, gender, race/ethnicity, insurance status, and urban versus rural residential location) and caries status. We used chi-square tests to compare sociodemographic differences of children stratified by caries and no caries status as well as three levels of caries severity. We developed a logistic regression model to investigate factors associated with untreated dental caries while controlling for sociodemographic characteristics.ResultsThe proportion of children having untreated dental caries was 49.7% and the mean number of untreated dental caries was 2.0. The proportion of untreated dental caries was higher in older children, children with no insurance and living in rural residential locations, and caries severity was also higher in these groups. Odds ratio indicated that older ages, not having private insurance (having only public, government-sponsored insurance or no insurance at all) and rural residential location were associated with having untreated dental caries after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics of children.ConclusionsUntreated dental caries was more likely to be present in older children living in rural areas without insurance. Health interventionists may use this information and target rural children without having proper insurance in order to reduce geographic disparities in untreated dental caries in South Central Kentucky.

An evaluation of a school‐based dental sealant programme

“…Community school‐based programmes provide millions of low‐income and uninsured children with oral health care who would not receive treatment otherwise Research in the United States from 1960 to 2014 has established dental sealants as a highly effective means for caries prevention in low socioeconomic status (SES) children who are identified as a high caries risk population . Conversely, the extent of the benefit of dental sealants for children with moderate to low caries risk is not well established due to a lack of quality research . Therefore, school‐based sealant programmes should target schools with low SES children for caries prevention.…”

The Average Annual Percent Change Analyzes of Preventive Dental Care in the Slovak Republic, 2014-2016

“…In a previous study insurance coverage, age and residential location are statistically significant in dental caries status while gender or race and ethnicity are non-significant in dental caries status [16]. In this study was found about 50% children (0-5 y.)…”

“…Poor oral health is associated with other diseases (low-birth weight and cardiovascular disease) [16]. In a previous study insurance coverage, age and residential location are statistically significant in dental caries status while gender or race and ethnicity are non-significant in dental caries status [16].…”

Disparities in Oral Health among School-Aged Children in Kansas

“…Several risk factors associated with children's untreated decay have been identified in the literature including older age, rural residence, and poverty. The results of studies that have investigated the association of age and geographic location with having untreated tooth decay are inconclusive [4] [14]- [17]. Weyant et al explored the prevalence of oral health status among school children in grades 1, 3, 9, and 11.…”