International Journal of Public Health
Volume 52, Issue 2, 2007, Pages 103-108

Caries prevalence in 11- to 14-year old migrant children in Germany (Article)

Bissar A.-R.* , Schulte A.G. , Muhjazi G. , Koch M.J.
  • a Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
  • b Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
  • c Department of Tropical Hygiene and Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
  • d Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany

Abstract

Objectives: To assess whether immigration stage is associated with higher prevalence of dental caries among schoolchildren in Heidelberg, Germany. Methods: A cross-sectional dental examination on 570 schoolchildren, aged 11 to 14 years, in schools with high proportions of immigrant pupils (49.5%) was performed. Carious, missing and filled permanent teeth were recorded for each child, so that mean DMFT values could be calculated. The pupils were classified into three groups: M0 (children and their parents were born in Germany), M1 (children who were born in Germany but whose parents were born outside of Germany), and M2 (children and their parents were born outside of Germany). Results: Themean DMFT values in M1 and M2 were close, and both were significantly higher than the corresponding values in M0. The proportions of caries-free children in M0, M1 and M2 were 63.7%, 40.3% and 42.3%, respectively. Conclusion: In Germany, migrant children have a poorer dental health status than native children coming from the same low socio-economic classes. Risk-oriented public health policies with appropriate prevention programs must be developed for these children. © Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel 2007.

Author Keywords

Dental health Migrant Children Preventive dental care Caries-risk groups Caries epidemiology

Index Keywords

Germany dental health public health service health care policy immigration human risk assessment controlled study priority journal health status health program cross-sectional study school child social status Adolescent male female dental caries child health prevalence Article major clinical study age preventive medicine mouth examination
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-34248674383&doi=10.1007%2fs00038-007-5102-5&partnerID=40&md5=73edc884f198bbf11b7c43bf43a21631
DOI: 10.1007/s00038-007-5102-5
ISSN: 16618556
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English