Dental caries incidence in permanent teeth of 12-year-old children in Korea

Abstract

Objectives:The objective of this study was to analyze dental caries incidence in the permanent teeth of 12-year-old children. Methods: This study used the raw data from the 2015 Korean children's oral health survey. Participants of the research were 12-year-old children in their first year of middle school. A total of 27,291 people participated in the questionnaire and oral examination. Statistical analysis was performed using complex samples frequency analysis and contingency coefficient phi (φ). Results: Dental caries predominately developed symmetrically with a higher tendency for left-right symmetry than for maxillary-mandibular symmetry in the mouth. The incidence of dental caries between adjacent teeth had a statistically significant correlation and was highest in the first and second premolars. Conclusions: Information on symmetry in the development of dental caries and the association of dental caries incidence between adjacent teeth of 12-year-old children should be actively utilized when establishing evidence-based dental caries management plans.

Multilevel Analysis on Spatial Distribution and Socio-Environmental Factors of Dental Caries in Korean Children

“…They also corroborate the findings from a 2010 study by Kim et al [11], which reported that the likelihood of being included in the high-risk group for dental caries increased as the average number of snacks consumed per day increased. In general, in terms of diet, the na-ture and frequency of sugar-containing foods affect the occurrence of dental caries [33], as increased snacking frequency can disrupt the balance between demineralization and remineralization, potentially leaving insufficient time for the restoration of the acidic environment to its normal state [34].…”

“…These findings align with prior research by Kim et al [11] which utilized data from the 2010 National Oral Health Survey, and Kim et al [12], which utilized data from the 2015 Korean Survey of Children's Oral Health. Both studies showed a high association between the prevalence of dental caries in 12-year-old children and their utilization of preventive treatments, which, in turn, influences their likelihood of falling into the high-risk group for dental caries.…”

“…Dental treatment demand in the past year was significant in the second-level model analysis (p = 0.0119), indicating a risk factor for dental caries prevalence. Previous studies using data from the 2010 National Oral Health Survey and the 2015 Children's Oral Health Survey also found that children who visited a dentist in the past year were 1.34 times and 2.13 times more likely to be included in the dental caries high-risk group, respectively [11,12].…”

“…In a multifaceted stream of research that includes socio-environmental factors, international studies have identified regional differences in dental caries prevalence [8][9][10]. In Korea, studies at the individual or population levels have reported differences in the distribution of caries according to individual behavioral factors or socioeconomic levels, and some studies have confirmed that the prevalence of caries is higher in rural areas than in urban areas [11][12][13]. However, these studies only identified differences in caries prevalence and did not report spatial analyses of the causes behind these regional differences.…”