A Study On Children's Dental Caries Status And Assessment Of Caries Risk In Industrial Estate

Objective:To assess valence of children's dental caries along with their caries risk profiles and to analyze the relative causes in some nonferrous metal industrial estate of Gansu province.The relative factors could be used to provide a reference for the oral health planning.Methods:(1)200 5-year-old and 200 12-year-old children in nonferrous metal industrial estate and the same number children in control area were randomly sampled to examine.The oral examine included the condition of dental caries,oral hygiene and dental fluorosis for 12-year-old children.And the fluoride concentration in drinking water was measured.(2)In each of these two regions,44 12-year-old children were separately divided into high-caries group and low-caries group to carry out caries activity test and process caries risk assessment using Cariogram computer model.(3)The contents of Zn,Cd,Pb,Fe,Mg and Cu in 48 caries children's hair from two regions averagely were examined.Also,the background data of the nonferrous metal industrial estate was analyzed.Results:1.(1)The prevalence and DMFT index of 5-year-old children had no statistical difference between two regions.(2)The prevalence,SiC index and DMFT index of 12-year-old children in the nonferrous metal industrial estate showed markedly higher than those of control area and the fluorosis index was on the edge of prevailing. (3)The oral plaque indexes in the industrial estates of 5 and 12-year-old children were distinctly lower than those of control area.Oral health behavior of the children in industrial estate excelled to that of control area.(4)The fluoride concentration of drinking water in these two regions is lower than national criterion.(5)There were no obvious different diet custom between experiment and control regions except for the higher frequency of milk in the industrial estate.2.Caries activity test:(1)The saliva buffer capacity and pH of 12- year-old children in the nonferrous metal industrial estate showed markedly lower than those of control area.(2)More children were distributed in higher level of Dentocult SM and less ones in higher velocity of saliva in the industrial estate.(3)The data indicated that the children in the industrial estate had more caries activity.3.The children in the industrial estate could be calculated to have more caries risk and possibility to fall new caries,≤25%,by using Cariogram computer model.4.The contents of microelement Zn,Cd,Pb,Fe,Mg and Cu were higher in the industrial estate than those in control area,espeically the contents of Cd and Pb markedly higher,being proved to correspond with the pollution condition in the industrial estate.And some studies had reported these elements could have relation to caries.Conclusions:The factors,influencing children's dental caries in this nonferrous metal industrial estate,were the social status and economical condition.And maybe,the environment pollution by the industry was also one of the fators.Especially,the environment polluted by the nonferrous metal(Cd,Pb,et al.)could be one of the reasons to induce caries.