Zahngesundheit bayerischer Schulkinder 2015/16

Abstract

Aim: During a German epidemiological investigation regarding group prophylaxis in 2015/16, oral health of 6- to 7- and 12-year old schoolchildren should be evaluated representatively. Aim of the study was to compare caries prevalence and restorations with a simultaneously conducted nationwide study. The tested null hypothesis was an unaltered caries prevalence compared to previous investigations.Materials and Methods: In the state Bavaria, 26 online calibrated investigators received an additional briefing in Erlangen Dental School. A stratified random sample was chosen for the Bavarian Workgroup for Oral Health (LAGZ) by GESIS Leibniz-Institut (Mannheim, Germany). From 02/2016 to 07/2016, 2,837 6- to 7-year old school children (1. grade) in 93 elementary schools were investigated. From 10/2015 to 06/2016, 1,235 12-year old school children (6th grade) in 107 secondary schools were examined. Oral health investigation included the tooth and surface-related DMF index for primary and permanent teeth. Statistical appraisal was related to age, kind of school, and location. The SiC index resulted from 33.3 % children with highest DMFS values. T-test and ANOVA were used.Results: Based on the random sample, 5,936 (63.5 % participation rate; 2009: 59.2 %) of 9,345 school children were investigated. 4,072 children belonged to the study group of children aged 6-/7- and 12- years. 61.3 % of children aged 6/7 were caries-free (2009: 50.6 %). The average dmf-t was 1.36. With 20.3 % of lesions (average d-t 0.51) having been unrestored (2009: 39.3 %; average d-t 1.28). 71.7 % of 12-year-old children were caries-free (2009: 61.5 %). Average DMF-T was 0.62 (DMF-S: 0.88). Caries prevalence (DMF-T /DMF-S) was significantly different compared to the previous investigation (2009) with significant differences among school types. Secondary school children suffered more caries compared to higher school forms.Conclusions: Facing the present results comparing to the previous studies, an improvement in oral health was detected. Two challenges in Bavaria school children still exist: 6/7-years old children still reveal a high percentage of unrestored carious lesions and 12-year olds secondary school children with higher caries risk require a special preventive program.