Student Assessments of Early Childhood Caries in Some Informal Settlements of Cape Town: A 10‐Year Series of Cross‐Sectional Studies

ABSTRACT Aim To assess Early Childhood Caries by measuring the dmft, Significant Caries Index (SiC), pufa, and caries‐free status in informal settlements outside Cape Town, South Africa over a 10‐year period. Method A series of cross‐sectional studies over a 10‐year period (2009–2019). Surveys were...

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Main Authors: Larisa Krekmanova, Neil Myburgh, Ted Lundgren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Public Health Challenges
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70049
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author Larisa Krekmanova
Neil Myburgh
Ted Lundgren
author_facet Larisa Krekmanova
Neil Myburgh
Ted Lundgren
author_sort Larisa Krekmanova
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Aim To assess Early Childhood Caries by measuring the dmft, Significant Caries Index (SiC), pufa, and caries‐free status in informal settlements outside Cape Town, South Africa over a 10‐year period. Method A series of cross‐sectional studies over a 10‐year period (2009–2019). Surveys were carried out in preschools in informal settlements. A total of 5090 children aged from 1 to 5 years of age were examined. Results For 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds, the mean dmft was 4.33 ± 1.55, and for 4‐ and 5‐year‐olds, it was 6.34 ± 1.48. The difference in dmft for 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds increased but did not differ statistically between 2009 and 2019. For 4–5 years old, there was an increase over time. For 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds, the mean pufa was 0.34 ± 0.28, and for 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, it was 0.63 ± 0.59. For 1‐ to 3‐ and for 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, there was a statistically significant, lower pufa 2009–2019. For 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds, the mean SiC was 11.0 ± 2.35, and for 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, it was 12.05 ± 1.89. There was a difference in SiC for 1–3 and for 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, which was higher but did not differ statistically 2009–2019. Among 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds, 32.1% were assessed as caries‐free. Among 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, 16.0% were caries‐free. There was a statistically significant, lower number of caries‐free 1‐ to 3‐year‐old and 4‐ 5‐year‐old children 2009–2019. Conclusions The mean dmft has been found to be continuously high from 2009 to 2019. The SiC score remained unchanged, whereas pufa was significantly lower. The frequency of caries‐free children was lower over time.
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spelling doaj-art-bfbb470341d44c30891eb2de6bc924252025-08-20T03:32:03ZengWileyPublic Health Challenges2769-24502025-06-0142n/an/a10.1002/puh2.70049Student Assessments of Early Childhood Caries in Some Informal Settlements of Cape Town: A 10‐Year Series of Cross‐Sectional StudiesLarisa Krekmanova0Neil Myburgh1Ted Lundgren2Department of Pediatric DentistryInstitute of Odontology at the Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSwedenDepartment of Community DentistryUniversity of the Western CapeCape Town South AfricaDepartment of Pediatric DentistryInstitute of Odontology at the Sahlgrenska AcademyUniversity of GothenburgGothenburgSwedenABSTRACT Aim To assess Early Childhood Caries by measuring the dmft, Significant Caries Index (SiC), pufa, and caries‐free status in informal settlements outside Cape Town, South Africa over a 10‐year period. Method A series of cross‐sectional studies over a 10‐year period (2009–2019). Surveys were carried out in preschools in informal settlements. A total of 5090 children aged from 1 to 5 years of age were examined. Results For 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds, the mean dmft was 4.33 ± 1.55, and for 4‐ and 5‐year‐olds, it was 6.34 ± 1.48. The difference in dmft for 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds increased but did not differ statistically between 2009 and 2019. For 4–5 years old, there was an increase over time. For 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds, the mean pufa was 0.34 ± 0.28, and for 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, it was 0.63 ± 0.59. For 1‐ to 3‐ and for 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, there was a statistically significant, lower pufa 2009–2019. For 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds, the mean SiC was 11.0 ± 2.35, and for 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, it was 12.05 ± 1.89. There was a difference in SiC for 1–3 and for 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, which was higher but did not differ statistically 2009–2019. Among 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds, 32.1% were assessed as caries‐free. Among 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, 16.0% were caries‐free. There was a statistically significant, lower number of caries‐free 1‐ to 3‐year‐old and 4‐ 5‐year‐old children 2009–2019. Conclusions The mean dmft has been found to be continuously high from 2009 to 2019. The SiC score remained unchanged, whereas pufa was significantly lower. The frequency of caries‐free children was lower over time.https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70049children | dmft | Early Childhood Caries | primary dentition | pufa | Significant Caries Index (SiC)
spellingShingle Larisa Krekmanova
Neil Myburgh
Ted Lundgren
Student Assessments of Early Childhood Caries in Some Informal Settlements of Cape Town: A 10‐Year Series of Cross‐Sectional Studies
Public Health Challenges
children | dmft | Early Childhood Caries | primary dentition | pufa | Significant Caries Index (SiC)
title Student Assessments of Early Childhood Caries in Some Informal Settlements of Cape Town: A 10‐Year Series of Cross‐Sectional Studies
title_full Student Assessments of Early Childhood Caries in Some Informal Settlements of Cape Town: A 10‐Year Series of Cross‐Sectional Studies
title_fullStr Student Assessments of Early Childhood Caries in Some Informal Settlements of Cape Town: A 10‐Year Series of Cross‐Sectional Studies
title_full_unstemmed Student Assessments of Early Childhood Caries in Some Informal Settlements of Cape Town: A 10‐Year Series of Cross‐Sectional Studies
title_short Student Assessments of Early Childhood Caries in Some Informal Settlements of Cape Town: A 10‐Year Series of Cross‐Sectional Studies
title_sort student assessments of early childhood caries in some informal settlements of cape town a 10 year series of cross sectional studies
topic children | dmft | Early Childhood Caries | primary dentition | pufa | Significant Caries Index (SiC)
url https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.70049
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