Abstract
Aim: The distribution of dental caries in children within the population is uneven. So, convenient approaches to population-based monitoring are needed to allocate resources and establish evidence-based programs that meet the needs of those at risk. The aim of this pilot study was to introduce the geo-map concept in oral healthcare and to demonstrate the novel approach by analysing epidemiological data from preschool children in the Manipur, India.
Methods: This pilot study comprised of randomly selected 384 children aged 6 years and below visiting the outpatient department of the Dental College, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, Manipur, India, between June and September 2015. The number of individual children with a dmfs/DMFS>0 (no obvious caries) was recorded and each child was geo-coded with respect to his/her residence district. A relative risk (RR) was calculated as the observed-to-expected ratio, where the expected number of individuals with dmfs/DMFS>0 was obtained from the age- and sex-specific caries (dmfs /DMFS>0) rates for the total study population. Caries risk geo- maps, along with corresponding statistical certainty geo-maps, were produced by using geo-mapping software. Ethical approval for the study was given by the ethics committee of the RIMS.
Results: The overall mean number of teeth with obvious caries was 5.6 (+ 2.4). The mean dmfs/DMFT by district ranged for 4.6 (+ 2.7) to 6.4 (+ 2.8). The relative risk by district varied from 0.24 to 2.09. The geomaps of preschool children displayed obvious geographical variations in caries risk. With increasing age, the difference seemed to reduce although the gross geographical risk pattern persisted with respect to the socio economic status.
Conclusion: Geo-maps based on caries risk may provide a novel option to allocate resources and tailor supportive and preventive measures within regions with sections of the population with relatively high caries rates.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.