Contribution of preventive methods in controlling caries among Saudi primary schoolchildren: a population-based cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Jehan AlHumaid College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
  • Zainah Salloot College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
  • Asim Al-Ansari College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
  • Maha El Tantawi College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
  • Yousef AlYousef College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
  • Fahad Al-Harbi College of Dentistry, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1080/00016357.2018.1425899

Keywords:

Dental caries, pit and fissure sealant, tooth brushing, dental checkups

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed the association between caries preventive measures including regular dental checkups, twice a day tooth brushing using fluoridated toothpaste and pit and fissure sealants on one side and the presence of caries among primary schoolchildren in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 including 1198, 6–12-year-old children from 13 randomly selected schools. The outcome variable was caries presence. The explanatory variables were brushing twice a day using fluoridated toothpaste, the presence of sealant and regular dental checkups. Multivariable logistic regression model was conducted to assess the associations controlling for confounders (age, gender, ability to get treatment, being health insured and school) using SPSS version 20.0.

Results: Data of 921 participants (83.8%) were available. The prevalence of caries was 63.5%, whereas 67.6% brushed their teeth twice a day, 28.3% visited the dentist for regular checkups and 7.6% had sealant. In multivariable regression, out of the three main explanatory variables, only having regular checkups was significantly associated with caries presence (OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.48, 0.88).

Conclusions: Lower odds of caries presence were associated with regular dental checkups but not with regular brushing or having sealant.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2018-08-18