Dental Health of Kindergarten
Children
Issue #13, December 2006
Executive
Summary
This report presents the results of the Ontario Dental Indices
Survey for
Almost 90 percent of the JK/SK
children surveyed were age four or five, so this report focuses on these two
ages. We surveyed an estimated 80 percent of the total population of five year
olds and a smaller proportion of four year olds.
Caries-Immunity
73 percent of four year
olds were caries-immune (never had a cavity) during the time period studied (3-year average).
66
percent of five year olds
were caries-immune during the time period studied
(3-year
average). Caries-immunity of
five-year olds was close to what it was in 1988 and 1990. We do not have
information on the survey methodology used in 1988 and 1990, so we are unable to
determine if results from the two time periods are
directly comparable.
Severity of Dental
Caries
Severity of dental caries was measured by counting the number of decayed, extracted,
missing and filled teeth (deft/DMFT).
The mean
deft/DMFT in four year olds ranged from 1.12 to 1.47.
The mean
deft/DMFT in five year olds ranged from 1.61 to 1.89. The deft/DMFT scores seem to have risen (worsened)
since achieving lows of 1.46 and 1.28 in 1988 and 1990. As with caries immunity,
we are unable to determine if results from the two time
periods are directly comparable.
When children without tooth
decay were taken out of the calculation of mean deft/DMFT, the scores rose from
between one and two, to close to five.
Urgent Treatment
Needs
8.3 percent of
four year olds and 9.8 percent of five year olds were found to have urgent dental treatment needs over the
three years studied (3-year averages). About one tenth of the students surveyed had urgent
dental treatment needs in the 2004/05 school year.
Non-urgent Treatment
Needs
5.7 percent of
four year olds and 4.5 percent of five year olds were found to have non-urgent dental treatment needs over the
three years studied (3-year averages).
Children in Need of Treatment
(CINOT) Program
An average of 82
four and five year olds received dental treatment through the CINOT program each
year during the time period studied. This represents
just over half (54%) of the children identified with urgent treatment needs. The
average CINOT expenditure per child was $424 over the three-year
period.
Recommendations for Dental Health
Programs at the
·
Continue to monitor
the results of the Dental Indices Survey and report on any
changes.
·
Continue to offer
dental health screening at Child Health Clinics (held monthly during the school
year at locations across
·
Increase efforts to
integrate oral health education into prenatal classes, the Healthy Babies
Healthy Children program, and any healthy eating and healthy weight initiatives
that reach young children.
·
Involve members of
the target group in the development of existing and new
initiatives.
·
Encourage health
and social service providers to reinforce oral health education
messages.
·
Ensure that written
communication about dental health programs and services is understandable to the
target audience.
·
Work with local and
regional partners to promote early identification of dental disease and early
initiation of regular dental care.
·
Work with community
partners to advocate for a public dental care program accessible to low income
people of all ages.