BackgroundThe utilization of oral health services in children remains at a relatively low level in China. However, little is known about the utilization patterns and related factors. The objective of this study was to explore the patterns of oral health service utilization and to determine the related factors among preschool children in Beijing, China, based on the Andersen behavioral model.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 1425 preschool children aged 2 to 6 years was carried out in five kindergartens in Beijing, China. A questionnaire investigation of parents/caregivers was performed to collect information on oral health service utilization. Oral health needs were evaluated through oral health examinations. Chi-square tests, t-tests, multivariate logistic regression and negative binomial regression were used in this study to identify the variables associated with oral health service utilization.ResultsIn total, 648 (45.5%) children had utilized oral health services in the past 12 months, while 24.3% had utilized preventive oral health services. Routine checkups and receiving preventive measures accounted for 63.2% of the children who utilized oral health services in the past 12 months. Children were more likely to have utilized oral health services in the past 12 months if they attended kindergartens with regular oral health care resources, if their oral health status as perceived by their parents/parents was “fair” or “poor”, if they had more decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) and if they had experienced more dental pain. In addition, children with more dental pain and more access to oral health services, whose oral health status was perceived by parents/caregivers as worse tended to have utilized oral health services more frequently in the past 12 months.ConclusionsIn conclusion, we found a strong association between access to regular oral health care resources and oral health service utilization among preschool children. Children whose oral health status was perceived by parents/caregivers as worse and who had more dental pain were more likely to have utilized oral health services in China.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12903-018-0494-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Dental caries is one of the most common infectious diseases affecting 6–8-year-old children, especially their first permanent molars (FPMs). This study explored the prevalence of dental caries on FPMs by analyzing the oral health status of 1,423,720 children aged 6–8 years in Zhejiang Province, China. The data were extracted from the dental electronic records of the schoolchildren attending the Oral Health Promotion Project (OHPP), conducted during 2013–2017 in Zhejiang Province. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine the factors affecting dental caries. Boys and girls accounted for 53.2% and 46.8% of the subjects, respectively. From 2013 to 2017, the prevalence of dental caries on FPMs increased: 2013: 20.4%; 2014: 25.3%; 2015: 24.5%; 2016: 27.0%; and 2017: 29.0%, despite the OHPP conducted. Based on multiple logistic regression model, girls had a significantly higher risk of FPM caries compared to boys (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.37–1.39, p < 0.0001); compared with the caries rates in urban areas, the caries risk was significantly higher in rural areas (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.14–1.16, p < 0.0001). In terms of geographic location in Zhejiang Province, the odds ratios of the caries risk of the east, south, west, and north were 1.35 (1.33–1.36), 1.3 (1.28–1.31), 0.81 (0.8–0.83), and 0.82 (0.81–0.84), respectively (p < 0.0001), by considering the central region as a reference. The caries prevalence of FPMs was high, with an increasing tendency and gender, social, cultural, and environmental factors affecting the caries prevalence.

Background The comparison of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels among older individuals with different periodontal statuses has not been fully investigated. Here we aimed to explore the correlation between the staging and grading of periodontitis and PSA levels in an elderly Chinese male population, which may lead to a biopsy recommendation and prevent prostate cancer as early as possible. Methods The study included 996 individuals aged ≥ 55 years who participated in routine postretirement physical examinations. Periodontal data included probing depth and gingival recession on four sites/tooth and on two diagonal quadrants (1–3 or 2–4) while excluding third molars, and clinical attachment loss was calculated. Periodontal status was classified as none, mild-moderate or severe periodontitis according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Periodontology case definition. Blood samples, oral health status and sociodemographic characteristics were collected by using general and oral examinations and questionnaires. Linear and logistic regressions were used to estimate the correlation between periodontitis severity and PSA levels, respectively. Results A total of 479 men had mild-moderate periodontitis and 355 had severe periodontitis; 162 men were periodontally healthy individuals. After adjusting for potential confounders, PSA levels were significantly lower in the individuals without periodontitis than in those with mild-moderate (P = 0.04) or severe (P = 0.03) periodontitis. However, PSA levels did not significantly correlate with periodontitis severity (P = 0.06). Although the ORs of elevated PSA were not significant, individuals with PSA ≥ 4.0 ng/mL were more likely to have periodontitis. Conclusions In a sample of an elderly Chinese male population, after adjusting for possible confounders, serum PSA levels in individuals with periodontitis were significantly higher than those in individuals without periodontitis, but serum PSA did not significantly correlate with periodontitis severity.

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