Dental Caries and the Erosive Tooth Wear Status of 12-Year-Old Children in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Anton Rahardjo,Shiqian Sherry Gao,Diah Ayu Maharani,Chun-Hung Chu,Shinan Zhang

doi:10.3390/ijerph16162994

Abstract

Background: Indonesia has the largest population of all countries in southeast Asia. However, little information is available on the oral health status of Indonesian children. The aims of this study were to assess dental caries and erosive tooth wear in 12-year-old children in Jakarta, Indonesia and to investigate the associated risk factors. Methods: Samples were selected using cluster sampling. Parents were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire regarding their oral health knowledge, demographic information, their child’s dietary habits, and oral health-related behaviors. Experience of caries and erosive tooth wear were recorded using the Decayed, Missing (due to caries), and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) index, respectively. Results: Of 779 children invited, 696 participated in the survey. Of these, 61% had experienced caries, and the mean DMFT score was 1.58. Almost all decay was untreated. Children who were female, who had a high frequency of soft drink intake, and whose father’s educational level was low were more likely to have dental caries. Most children had at least one lesion of erosive tooth wear. Children whose mother’s educational level was low were more likely to have erosive tooth wear. Conclusions: The prevalence of dental caries and erosive tooth wear was high in 12-year-old children in Jakarta. Their dietary habits and parental level of education were associated with the presence of these dental conditions.

Highlights

Public knowledge about and attitudes towards dental caries have improved in recent decades, it remains the most prevalent oral disease in children worldwide and historically, has been considered the most important global oral health burden [1]
The chi-square test revealed that gender; frequency of intake of soft drinks, citrus drinks, and chewing gum; and parental level of education were associated with the prevalence of dental caries (Table 2)
The present study found that 61% of 12-year-old Indonesian children were affected by dental caries, and the mean DMFT score was 1.58

Summary

Introduction

Public knowledge about and attitudes towards dental caries have improved in recent decades, it remains the most prevalent oral disease in children worldwide and historically, has been considered the most important global oral health burden [1]. Studies have reported that the presence of dental caries is associated with a child’s poor oral health-related quality of life [3,4]. It is well accepted that the oral health related behaviors of children and their families’ socioeconomic background are associated with the presence of dental caries [5]. Erosive tooth wear is the subsequent loss of chemically-softened tooth tissue by an abrasive force [8]. The aims of this study were to assess dental caries and erosive tooth wear in 12-year-old children in Jakarta, Indonesia and to investigate the associated risk factors. Experience of caries and erosive tooth wear were recorded using the Decayed, Missing (due to caries), and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index and the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE)

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Conclusion