A socioeconomic correlation of oral disease in six to thirty-six month old children

Abstract

A survey of 441 children between the ages of 6 and 36 months, born and reared with a fluoridated water supply, revealed dental caries in 2.5 percent of those 6 to 17 months of age, 9.1 percent of those 18 to 23 months of age, and in 38.7 percent of the children 24 to 26 months of age. No significant differences were found in defs and deft relative to sex, race, or socioeconomic status. Caries prevalence is affected by method of feeding; children who had prolonged bottle-feeding (more than 15 months) had significantly increased caries. In 299 Caucasian children, gingivitis was present in 13.2 percent of those 6 to 17 months of age, 33.9 percent of those 18 to 23 months of age, and in 38.5 percent 24 to 36 months of age. There was little difference in the severity of the gingivitis, although significant difference in the frequency of gingivitis was demonstrated. The prevalence of gingivitis increased with age. Young children with dental caries also showed an increased prevalence of gingivitis. The presence of gingivitis, the presence of dental caries, and the absence of professional dental care in these young children all illustrate the necessity for prevention and treatment of oral disease in children under 36 months of age.