Epidemic investigation on permanent tooth caries in 15-year age children in Anhui Province, P. R. China

Yuchun Yan, DDS, Yong Jiang, DDS, Xiaolan Han, DDS, and Li Zhang, DDS

Department of Dentistry, Anhui Medical University Hospital, Hefei, P. R. China



Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of permanent tooth caries in 15-year age children in Anhui Province, P. R. China.
Materials and Methods: Totally 2,325 children in 15-year age from four cities in Anhui province were investigated by non-proportional stratified cluster sampling method, including 1,163 males and 1,162 females, 1,472 urban and 852 rural people. The permanent tooth XDMF, the permanent caries prevalence rate, and the permanent tooth proportions of DMF were investigated. The results were compared with the national average level by U tests.
Results: XDMFT was 0.95, lower than the national level 1.42 significantly (p<0.001). The permanent caries prevalence rate was 39.78%, lower than the national level 52.43% significantly (p<0.001). The permanent tooth proportions of DMF were 86.78% (D), 4.30% (M), and 8.92% (F) respectively. Compared with the national level of 82.84% (D), 1.21% (M), and 15.95% (F), Anhui province’s caries but not filled proportion was almost the similar (p>0.05), missed teeth proportion was higher significantly (p<0.001) but filled teeth proportion was lower significantly (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, Anhui province’s XDMFT and permanent caries prevalence rate were lower than the national level in 15-year age children. However, Anhui province’s missed teeth proportion was higher but filled teeth proportion was lower. It indicates that government planers should adopt more effective ways to detail with the permanent caries in children in Anhui province.
(Int Chin J Dent 2003; 3: 115-117.)


Clinical Significance: Epidemic investigation on permanent tooth caries in 15-year age children in Anhui Province was performed, and the result was compared with that of the national level.
Key Words: child, dental caries, epidemic investigation, permanent tooth.