Oral conditions in Australian children of Aboriginal and Caucasian descent

Abstract

Oral health parameters were examined for 211 schoolchildren (128 Aborigines and 83 Caucasians) representative of the 6-8 and 10-11 yr age groups in the Brewarrina and Walgett areas of western New South Wales (fluoride in water .ltoreq. 0.02-0.26 parts/106). Despite similar dietary carbohydrate challenge and tooth eruption patterns, Aboriginal children, most of whom were members of a transitional community within a low socioeconomic stratum, had higher prevalence of caries (DIMFT [diseased, injured, missing or filled teeth]) and severity rating of carious lesions (SR), poorer oral hygiene (OHI [oral hygiene index]) and more gingivitis (PI [plaque index]) than Caucasian children, in the 2 age groups. Tooth defects were more frequent (2.5 times) and severe in Aborigines than in Caucasians. Outstanding treatment needs were very high in the 2 ethnic groups, but more so in Aborigines.