Risk factors and risk indicators associated with high caries experience in Swedish 19-year-olds

Abstract

Objective: To study the risk factors and risk indicators associated with high caries experience (DMFS >or= 10) in 19-year-olds.

Material and methods: The subjects (n=800) lived in seven suburbs of Stockholm and answered a structured questionnaire about their parents' education, occupation, and country of birth, as well as their dietary habits, oral hygiene habits, and attitudes to dental care. Dental caries was assessed by clinical and radiographic examination using the decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT), and surfaces (DMFS) indices. Dental plaque (VPI%) and gingival bleeding (GBI%) indices were recorded.

Results: A total of 696 subjects (364 M, 332 F) participated in the study. The mean DMFT and DMFS were 3.9 and 5.1, respectively. In 81% of subjects, the DMFT was >or= 1 and 15% had DMFS >or= 10. In the multivariate analysis, the variables significantly associated with high caries experience were: dental fear (p<0.001, odds ratio (OR) 2.8), GBI >or= 15% (p=0.003, OR 2.1), mother born abroad (p=0.007, OR 2.0) and irregular toothbrushing at night (p=0.008, OR 1.9). When all significant variables in the multivariate analysis were present, the cumulative probability of DMFS >or= 10 was 52%.

Conclusions: Dental fear, gingival inflammation, a foreign-born mother, and irregular toothbrushing at night are variables that are strongly associated with high caries experience in 19-year olds. The study indicates that foreign-born parents, oral hygiene habits, and behavioral factors still have a strong impact on dental health in late adolescence.