Immigrants and a public oral health care service for children in Denmark

Abstract

The present study was conducted to compare level of dental caries, treatment pattern and contact patterns with the Child Oral Health Care System of children of immigrants. The study comprised 239 Turkish, 117 Pakistani and 91 other immigrants and a control group of 359 Danish children. Data were extracted from the dental records in the clinic where they were treated. All groups of immigrants showed more caries in the primary dentition and less caries in the permanent dentition than Danish children of comparable age. For preschool children a higher number of broken appointments were found for the immigrants as well as a higher number of appointments which were interrupted due to management problems. The consequences for planning preventive and restorative programs for children of immigrants are discussed.