Dental Caries Status, Socio-Economic, Behavioral and Biological Variables among 12-Year-Old Palestinian School Children

• Published in: The Journal of clinical pediatric dentistry Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 331 - 335
• Main Authors: Sgan-Cohen, H D, Bajali, M, Eskander, L, Steinberg, D, Zini, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry 2015
• Subjects: Adolescent; Buffers; Child; Dental Care - statistics & numerical data; Dental Caries - epidemiology; Dental Devices, Home Care - statistics & numerical data; Dentistry; DMF Index; Educational Status; Employment - statistics & numerical data; Family Characteristics; Female; Health Behavior; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lactobacillus - isolation & purification; Male; Middle East - epidemiology; Mouthwashes - therapeutic use; Oral Health - statistics & numerical data; Prevalence; Saliva - microbiology; Saliva - physiology; Saliva - secretion; Secretory Rate - physiology; Social Class; Streptococcus mutans - isolation & purification; Toothbrushing - statistics & numerical data; Middle East; dental caries; health behavior; socio-economic position
• ISSN: 1053-4628; 1557-5268
• DOI: 10.17796/1053-4628-39.4.331

There are currently inadequate data regarding the prevalence of dental caries and its associated variables, among Palestinian children. To determine the current prevalence of dental caries and related variables, among Palestinian children in East Jerusalem. A stratified sample of 286 East Jerusalem Palestinian children was selected, employing randomly chosen sixth grade clusters from three pre-selected socio-economic school groups. Dental caries was recorded according to WHO recommendations. Salivary flow, pH, buffer capacity and microbial parameters, were recorded according to previously employed methodologies. The mean level of caries experience, by DMFT, was 1.98 ± 2.05. This level was higher than those found among Israeli children, but lower than several other Middle Eastern countries. In uni-variate analysis, significant associations were revealed between caries and school categories, which indicated lower, middle and higher socio-economic position(SEP), mothers' employment, home densities, dental visits, tooth brushing, Streptococci mutans (SM), Lactobacilli (LB), and saliva pH. According to a linear logistic regression model, children learning in lower SEP schools, with higher SM levels and more acidic saliva, had a higher chance of experiencing dental caries. These findings should be considered in the planning of services and dental health care programs for Palestinian children.