Oral health inequalities between young Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children living in Ontario, Canada

A scoping review on early childhood caries and inequalities using the Sustainable Development Goal 10 framework

BACKGROUND

Social inequalities contribute to health disparities. This study aimed to map evidence on early childhood caries (ECC) related to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 10 (SDG 10).

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted in May 2024 following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL for studies published in English and addressing population level social inequalities. Studies measuring individual level of social inequalities were excluded as they were covered by other SDGs. However, studies incorporating individual measures as additional measures of population level social inequality were included. Retrieved papers were summarized, inductively analysed and a conceptual framework linking SDG 10 was developed.

RESULTS

Of 452 studies retrieved, 42 met the inclusion criteria. Studies measured inequality among groups (deprivation, family income, indigenous communities, ethnicity, minority status) [14 studies], institutions (type of school, nursery or school facility, school poverty index, public primary health care units) [five studies], and inequality in communities (neighbourhood socio-economic status, Human Development Index, employment rate, income inequality, sanitary sewer and water supply, residents/household ratio, urban vs rural vs remote rural, accessibility index, location index, the slope index of inequality) [24 studies]. These levels of social inequalities were linked to higher prevalence of ECC; social and economic policies contributed to widening inequalities in ECC severity; and although effective interventions targeted at at-risk populations could reduce dental health disparities, study interventions differed by deprivation status. Six studies (14.3%) addressed SDG 10.1, 33 (78.6%) addressed SDG 10.2, 11 (26.2%) addressed SDG 10.3, and three (7.1%) addressed SDG 10.4. Fourteen studies (33.3%) addressed a combination of SDGs. The conceptual framework highlights the role of structural inequalities stemming from the cumulative impact of institutional decisions and systemic inequalities.

CONCLUSION

This scoping review underscores the profound influence of social inequality on ECC through interactions between multi-level factors. Further research is needed to explore the links between ECC and other SDG 10 targets, especially in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Nishtam Niwiipitan (My First Teeth): Oral Health Digital Stories from Urban Indigenous Parents

PURPOSE

To develop oral health-related digital story videos through interviews with Indigenous parents who shared their experiences in dealing with early childhood caries (ECC) in their children.

METHODS

Indigenous parents in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, were recruited from community programs from October to December 2019 as part of the Nishtam Niwiipitan (My First Teeth), a community-based participatory research study that builds on an ECC intervention. A twofold qualitative narrative approach to data collection was used: 1) interviewing participants and creating digital stories and 2) taking part in the postfilming feedback interviews. Participants were interviewed via video in a semistructured format sharing their experiences and attitudes about caring for children with ECC and the challenges faced seeking dental care for the disease. The stories were drawn from parents in 3 predetermined groups: those with 1) children who had undergone dental surgery under general anesthesia, 2) children who had received silver diamine fluoride as an alternative to surgery to manage ECC, and 3) caries-free children. Prior to editing, the narrated stories were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. The postfilming interview transcripts were also analyzed and coded for key themes.

RESULTS

Six parents and 1 grandparent, all of whom self-identified as Indigenous (First Nations or Métis) and cared for children aged <6 y, created the digital stories. Three key themes emerged from the postfilming interviews: ability to share, ability to help, and ability to change. Participants felt important, optimistic, and motivated throughout the process of making their digital stories.

CONCLUSION

Digital storytelling offered First Nations and Métis parents a unique opportunity to share their experiences caring for children with ECC with the wider public. These videos can be incorporated into oral health promotion and ECC intervention programs as a culturally appropriate method for reaching Indigenous families.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

The use and development of digital storytelling for oral health promotion have great potential for spreading awareness and sharing knowledge with Indigenous parents/caregivers about their children's oral health and care practices. This health promotion tool is congruent with Indigenous ways of knowing, as Indigenous communities have a long tradition of oral history. The videos produced for this study will assist with oral health promotion efforts to address the high rates of early childhood caries in Indigenous communities in Canada.

How can pediatric surgeons address racism and become actively anti-racist?

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

This is an article submitted on behalf of the Canadian Association of Pediatric Surgeons. We assert that Pediatric Surgeons must work to dismantle systemic racism. Pediatric Surgeons have expertise in both common and rare surgical diseases affecting patients ranging from premature neonates to adolescents. Thus, our professional obligation is to transform our health and social systems to prevent the harms of racism to our patients.

METHODS

Specific to the Canadian context, we describe a brief history, the ongoing impact on individuals and communities, and the harmful effect on the surgical community and trainees. Finally, we developed a series of practical recommendations to help surgeons become actively anti-racist.

RESULTS

Four primary recommendations are made: (1) Increasing and supporting anti-racism education; (2) Changing individual behaviours to combat racism; (3) Developing strategies for organizational change; and (4) Committing to diversity in leadership.

CONCLUSION

As surgeons, we are actors of change, and we can take meaningful steps to combat racism in our health systems.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

V.

Clinical Strategies to Develop Connections, Promote Health and Address Pain From the Perspectives of Indigenous Youth, Elders, and Clinicians

In this article we discuss findings from a community based, participatory action research study. The aim was to understand how Indigenous youth describe, experience, manage pain and hurt and how they seek care. A critical analysis guided by Two-Eyed Seeing and Medicine Wheel frameworks highlighted important clinical strategies for Indigenous youth to balance their health and reduce pain. This study is a partnership project with an Aboriginal Health Centre in Southern Ontario and the Canadian Institute of Health Research funded Aboriginal Children's Hurt and Healing Initiative (ACHH). The study gathered perspectives of Indigenous youth, Elders, and health clinicians using conversation sessions guided by a First Nations doctoral student and nurse researcher. Using the medicine wheel framework three main thematic areas emerged across the three groups and include (1) Predictors of Imbalance; (2) Indicators of Imbalance; and (3) Strategies to re-establish balance health in relation to pain. The main strategy includes considerations for clinicians using the acronym LISTEN (Language, Individual, Share, Teachable moments, Engage, and Navigate) approach that outlines strategies for clinicians that will be a safe guide to manage pain and hurt.

Association between psychosocial determinants of adverse childhood experiences and severe early childhood caries among First Nations children

AIM

To determine whether psychosocial determinants of adverse childhood experiences (ACE), from pregnancy to 2 years old, are associated with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) in Indigenous children.

DESIGN

Secondary data analyses from an ECC prevention trial among 344 First Nations mother-child dyads living on- and off-reserve in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada. Stratified (on-/off-reserve) logistic regression, controlling for mother's age and income source, assessed three categories of psychosocial ACE determinants: alcohol/drug misuse, household financial hardship (overcrowding and food insecurity) and emotional/social well-being (Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), sense of personal control (SOC), social support, subjective social status).

RESULTS

Household overcrowding [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.89 (95% CI: 1.06-3.38)], food insecurity [AOR = 2.86 (1.53-5.34)] and mothers' high perceived stress [AOR = 2.48 (1.40-4.37)] were associated with S-ECC (dmft > 9) for those on-reserve. Maternal SOC had a protective effect for off-reserve children [AOR = 0.17 (0.03-0.95)].

CONCLUSIONS

Increased efforts to reduce psychosocial ACE determinants are paramount to decreasing Indigenous children's vulnerability to S-ECC.

Oral Health Status and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of First Nations and Metis Children

Objectives:

To assess the oral health status and oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) of young First Nations and Metis children.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study assessed the oral health status of Indigenous children <72 mo of age while their parents/caregivers completed a questionnaire, including the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS), to assess OHRQoL. Analysis included descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multiple regression. A P value ≤0.05 was considered significant.

Results:

Overall, 146 children were recruited with a mean age of 40.1 ± 21.2 (SD) months, and 49% were male. Among First Nations children, 65.4% had early childhood caries (ECC) as compared with 45.2% among Metis children (P = 0.025). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of severe ECC (S-ECC) between First Nations and Metis children (60.6% v. 42.9%, P = 0.051). The mean decayed, missing, and filled primary teeth (dmft) score was 4.9 ± 5.3 (range 0–20), and the mean decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (dmfs) score was 14.5 ± 20.4 (range 0–80). The total mean ECOHIS score was 4.4 ± 5.9 (range 0–25), while the mean Child Impact Section and Family Impact Section scores were 2.6 ± 4.0 (range 0–10) and 1.8 ± 2.8 (range 0–8), respectively. Multiple linear regression showed S-ECC was associated with total mean ECOHIS scores (P = 0.02). Higher total mean ECOHIS scores (which indicates poorer OHRQoL) were observed in children with ECC compared with caries-free children (5.8 v. 2.4, P = 0.0001).

Conclusion:

Oral health disparities such as ECC and reduced OHRQoL exist among many First Nations and Metis children in Manitoba. This is the first Canadian study exploring the OHRQoL of Indigenous children in addition to their oral health status.

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

This study is the first to report on the oral health–related quality of life and its relationship to early childhood caries (ECC) among young Canadian First Nations and Metis children. Metis children are just as likely to suffer from severe ECC than First Nations children. The findings of this study have informed community-based and community-developed oral health promotion and ECC prevention activities.

Dental Health Inequalities among Indigenous Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to document the disparity in dental caries experiences among indigenous and nonindigenous populations globally by measuring dental caries prevalence and severity. An electronic database (MEDLINE) was initially searched using relevant keywords. This was followed by use of the search string in the following electronic databases: Scopus, EBSCOhost, Cochrane, and Open Grey. Two independent reviewers conducted the study search and screening, quality assessment, and data extraction, which was facilitated using JBI SUMARI software. The primary outcome was the decayed missing filled teeth (DMFT) score and dental caries prevalence. Subgroup analysis was done by country of publication to identify causes of heterogeneity. Forest plots were used with the standardized mean difference (SMD) and publication bias was assessed using the Egger test with funnel plot construction. For the final review, 43 articles were selected and 34 were meta-analyzed. The pooled mean DMFT for both the permanent dentition (SMD = 0.26; 95% CI 0.13-0.39) and deciduous dentition (SMD = 0.67; 95% CI 0.47-0.87) was higher for the Indigenous population than for the general population. Indigenous populations experienced more decayed teeth (SMD = 0.44; 95% CI 0.25-0.62), a slightly higher number of missing teeth (SMD = 0.11< 95% CI -0.05 to 0.26), and lesser filled teeth (SMD = -0.04; 95% CI -0.20 to 0.13) than their nonindigenous counterparts. The prevalence of dental caries (SMD = 0.27; 95% CI 0.13-0.41) was higher among indigenous people. Globally, indigenous populations have a higher caries prevalence and severity than nonindigenous populations. The factors which have led to such inequities need to be examined.

Long-term effects of a toddler-focused caries prevention programme among Northwestern US tribal children: The TOTS-to-Tweens study

OBJECTIVES

We sought to determine whether American Indian tribe-based interventions that successfully prevented toddler dental caries in a 2005 cohort study (the Toddler Overweight and Tooth Decay Prevention Study, or TOTS) influenced the prevalence of dental caries in children ages 11 to 13 in the same communities ten years later (the TOTS-to-Tweens study).

METHODS

We recruited original TOTS participants and conducted school- and community-based dental screenings at tribal communities that received family plus community-wide interventions (F + CW), community interventions only (CW) or were control communities. We also enrolled children who did not participate in TOTS, but were exposed to CW interventions or to the control environment. Trained clinicians examined children's teeth and recorded whether each tooth was decayed, missing or filled (DMFT). We calculated DMFT scores for each child and evaluated differences in DMFT incidence rate ratios (IRR) and components of DMFT by intervention group.

RESULTS

We observed lower age- and sex-adjusted DMFT scores among F + CW children (a mean of 2.1 DMFT; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-2.7) and among CW children (2.2; 95% CI: 1.9-2.6), than control children (3.0; 95% CI: 2.3-3.7). The F + CW group had 32% lower DMFT scores than control children (IRR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.46-1.01), and CW children had 26% lower DMFT scores than control (IRR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.55-1.00). The proportion of children with filled teeth was higher in control than intervention communities (37.9% in F + CW, 47.1% in CW, and 67.1% in control, P = .002).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest modest yet significant long-term effects of interventions that prevented toddler dental caries on the DMFT scores of tweens evaluated ten years later. Further study of effective interventions and their sustainability is clearly warranted among tribal children, who remain at high risk for dental caries.

Integrating preventive dental care into general Paediatric practice for Indigenous communities: paediatric residents' perceptions

This qualitative study aimed to explore paediatric residents' perceptions of the feasibility of incorporating preventive dental care into a general paediatric outreach clinic for a First Nations community. Four focus groups were conducted with paediatric residents and attending paediatricians. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a basic interpretive qualitative approach. Three major themes emerged from the data: advantages of integration, barriers to integration and strategies for integration. Comprehensive care and service delivery were the two identified advantages of integration. Three categories of barriers emerged including patient and caregiver-related, resident-related and setting-related barriers. Training and practice, patient education, support and policy were the suggested strategies for successful integration. Providers were found to be open to integrating preventive dental care into their practice. However, barriers impeded the success of this integration. Multiple strategies including oral health care training for medical providers, office support and policy changes would facilitate successful integration.

The Burden of Early Childhood Caries in Canadian Children and Associated Risk Factors

Introduction: Early childhood caries (ECC) is any caries in the primary dentition occurring in children under the age of six. ECC is common in many population groups in Canada. Objective: The purpose of this review was to describe the burden of ECC in Canada, the prevalence and associated risk factors for ECC, and its impact on childhood health based on the existing published literature. Methods: A review was conducted to assess published Canadian studies on ECC identified through searches of electronic databases. Databased searched included PubMed, Medline, Cinahl, and the library catalog of the University of Manitoba. Known publications on ECC that were not identified by the electronic search were also considered. Only the studies that reported the prevalence of ECC or caries in preschool aged children were considered. In-depth assessments were restricted to those studies that employed logistic regression analysis to investigate relationship between ECC and risk factors or nutritional status and quality of life. Results: A total of 36 studies were identified that related to ECC in Canadian children. Overall, 27 related to prevalence and 12 reported on risk factors, four related to the association between severe ECC and nutritional health and well-being, while only one related to the oral microbiome composition. Published studies reveal that the prevalence of ECC can be as high as 98% in some parts of Canada. Commonly identified risk factors include age, sex, socio-economic status, parental beliefs, family characteristics, debris/plaque, enamel hypoplasia, and behavioral (oral health or feeding behaviors) tendencies. Conclusions: Current literature reveals that many Canadian children are affected by ECC. The development of ECC appears to be strongly associated with social determinants of health including low household income and the level of parental education or employment status. Associations were also observed between ECC and the child's age at first dental visit and parental beliefs about child's oral health. Children with enamel hypoplasia are also at significantly greater odds for experiencing caries. Future research should include assessments of developmental defects of enamel to better understand the association between enamel hypoplasia and ECC.

Risk indicators for untreated dental decay among Indigenous Australian children

OBJECTIVE

To investigate risk indicators for untreated dental decay among Indigenous Australian children using a national representative sample.

METHODS

Data were from the National Child Oral Health Study 2012-2014, which included a nationally representative sample of Indigenous Australian children aged 5-14 years. Outcomes were the prevalence (% ds/DS >0) and severity (mean ds/DS) of untreated dental decay at the tooth surface level. Caries of the primary dentition was estimated among 5- to 10-year-olds, while that of the permanent dentition was among 8- to 14-year-olds. Independent variables included residential location, household income, frequency and age commencement of toothbrushing, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) consumption, dental visiting and residential fluoridation status. Multivariable log-Poisson regression models with robust standard error estimation were used to identify risk indicators for untreated decay. The complex sampling design was taken into account in all analyses.

RESULTS

There were 720 5- to 10-year-old and 736 8- to 14-year-old Indigenous children. Indigenous children experienced significant amount of untreated dental caries. Among 5- to 10-year-olds, % ds >0 was 43.1 (95% CI: 36.8-49.6) and mean ds was 3.4 (95% CI: 2.4-4.4). Among 8- to 14-year-olds, % DS >0 was 27.3 (22.3-32.9), while mean DS was 0.8 (0.6-1.0). In multivariable modelling, risk indicators for % ds >0 among 5- to 10-year-olds were low household income, commencing toothbrushing after 30 months of age, consuming 2+ cups of SSB per day and not residing in fluoridated areas. Risk indicators for mean ds among 5- to 10-year-olds included infrequent toothbrushing and consuming 2+ cups of SSB per day. Risk indicators for % DS >0 among 8- to 14-year-olds were low household income, while risk indicators for mean DS among 8- to 14-year-olds were residing in non-capital city, low household income, consuming 2+ cups of SSB per day and not residing in fluoridated areas.

CONCLUSION

Indigenous Australian children experienced significant amount of untreated dental caries. Risk indicators for untreated decay included demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, oral hygiene behaviours, dietary behaviours and environmental factors.

Oral Health Knowledge and Behavior among Adults in the United Arab Emirates

Background

The prevalence of periodontal diseases is increasing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) despite a worldwide decline in the prevalence of dental caries among children and adolescents. The aims of this study were to determine the levels of oral health knowledge and health-related behavior in adult UAE residents, and the relationship between these variables and oral health.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional survey with nonprobability sampling was used in this study. A sample of 630 adults residing in the UAE completed an oral health survey to assess their oral health knowledge and behavior. Mean oral health knowledge and behavior scores were calculated and correlated with population demographic and behavioral variables.

Results

Participants were found to have an acceptable oral health knowledge score (OHKS) of 10.50 (2.36) where 62 % of participants answered the questions correctly. Results showed that age, gender, nationality, smoking, and physical activity were significantly associated with the knowledge score. However, only gender, nationality, and smoking predicted oral health knowledge scores after further regression analysis. On the other hand, the mean oral health behavior score (OHBS) for all participants was 8.91 (2.29); 98% of all participants practiced at least an acceptable level of oral behavior and 53% practiced a good to perfect level. Age, gender, educational level, employment status, insurance status, marital status, nationality, smoking, and physical activity showed significant statistical association with the score of behaviors related to oral health. Only gender, number of diabetes sessions attended, and health information sources used remained significant after further regression analysis.

Conclusion

Further efforts are required to spread awareness about oral health and encourage the UAE population to develop healthy oral habits. Such programs will decrease the occurrence and burden of many chronic oral diseases especially periodontal diseases.

Ethnic disparities in children's oral health: findings from a population-based survey of grade 1 and 2 schoolchildren in Alberta, Canada

Background

Although oral health has improved remarkably in recent decades, not all populations have benefited equally. Ethnic identity, and in particular visible minority status, has been identified as an important risk factor for poor oral health. Canadian research on ethnic disparities in oral health is extremely limited. The aim of this study was to examine ethnic disparities in oral health outcomes and to assess the extent to which ethnic disparities could be accounted for by demographic, socioeconomic and caries-related behavioral factors, among a population-based sample of grade 1 and 2 schoolchildren (age range: 5-8 years) in Alberta, Canada.

Methods

A dental survey (administered during 2013-14) included a mouth examination and parent questionnaire. Oral health outcomes included: 1) percentage of children with dental caries; 2) number of decayed, extracted/missing (due to caries) and filled teeth; 3) percentage of children with two or more teeth with untreated caries; and 4) percentage of children with parental-ratings of fair or poor oral health. We used multivariable regression analysis to examine ethnic disparities in oral health, adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic and caries-related behavioral variables.

Results

We observed significant ethnic disparities in children’s oral health. Most visible minority groups, particularly Filipino and Arab, as well as Indigenous children, were more likely to have worse oral health than White populations. In particular, Filipino children had an almost 5-fold higher odds of having severe untreated dental problems (2 or more teeth with untreated caries) than White children. Adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic, and caries-related behavior variables attenuated but did not eliminate ethnic disparities in oral health, with the exception of Latin American children whose outcomes did not differ significantly from White populations after adjustment.

Conclusions

Significant ethnic disparities in oral health exist in Alberta, Canada, even when adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic and caries-related behavioral factors, with Filipino, Arab, and Indigenous children being the most affected.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12903-017-0444-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Oral health interventions in Australian Aboriginal communities: a review of the literature

Aboriginal Australians experience significant disparities in oral health with even poorer outcomes reported in rural and remote areas. The high rates of preventable dental disease in Aboriginal communities are a serious concern from a social standpoint and in terms of service provision and health care expenditure. In this review, primary research literature was comprehensively reviewed. Papers were selected if they reported designing or implementing an intervention or oral health programme specific to the needs of Aboriginal communities. Twenty-one publications fulfilled the inclusion criteria with 19 different interventions being described. Interventions were categorized using a classification adapted from the work of Whitehead (2002). The review identified interventions that aimed to reduce early childhood caries, increase services to remote communities, develop the role of Aboriginal health workers, improve oral health literacy, establish water fluoridation and provide periodontal therapy. Implementing successful oral health interventions in Aboriginal communities is a challenge that is compounded by the complex interplay between psychosocial and cultural determinants. Even interventions that follow a rigorous and consultative design have a high failure rate in Aboriginal communities if upstream determinants of health are not adequately understood and addressed.

Integration of oral health into primary care: a scoping review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Integrated care has been introduced as a means of improving health outcomes and access to care, and reducing the cost of healthcare. Despite its importance, the integration of oral health into primary care is still an emerging healthcare pathway. This scoping review protocol has been developed and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to provide an evidence-based synthesis on a primary oral healthcare approach and its effectiveness in improving oral health outcomes.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The 6-stage framework developed by Levac et al underpins this scoping review. We will identify relevant existing theories, programmes and original research through a comprehensive and systematic search of electronic databases such as OVID (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane databases), NCBI (PubMed), EBSCOhost (CINAHL), ProQuest, Databases in Public Health, Databases of the National Institutes of Health (health management and health technology) and relevant organisational websites and other sources of grey literature. All types of studies from 1978 to May 2016 in the French and English languages will be included. Using the Rainbow conceptual model of integrative primary care, a qualitative descriptive approach and thematic analysis will be used to synthesise the literature. Implementing novel healthcare models necessitates identifying barriers, sharing knowledge and delivering information. The integration of oral healthcare into primary care is an approach that promotes breaking the boundaries separating oral healthcare professionals and primary care. It creates opportunities for the dental workforce to become more involved in community-based practice and to assume shared responsibility with healthcare professionals to address the unmet oral health needs of those experiencing vulnerability and marginalisation.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The scoping study has received approval from the Université de Montréal's Institutional Review Board (#14-097-CERES-D). The findings will be disseminated through publications and presentations in provincial, national and international research symposiums and professional meetings.

Inequality of Experience of Dental Caries between Different Ethnic Groups of Brazilians Aged 15 to 19 Years

Introduction

The aim of this study was to assess inequality of experience of dental caries, based on race/ethnicity, among Brazilian adolescents aged 15 to 19 years in 2010 and test whether socioeconomic indicators fully explain ethnic differences in dental caries.

Methods

Data from a National Oral Health Survey conducted in Brazil in 2010 was analysed. Race/ethnicity was self-assigned and modified to White, African descents, East Asian descents, Mixed Race and Indigenous descents. The prevalence of caries experience by race/ethnic group in 2010(n = 5,367) was calculated. Further analysis included conceptual hierarchical modelling and mediation analysis.

Results

Caries experience was 76.9% in 15 to 19 year old Brazilians in 2010. While African descents were 32% more likely to have caries experience than Whites, Mixed Race were 69% more likely to have caries experience than Whites. Hierarchical conceptual modelling analysis confirmed the highly significant association between caries and race/ethnicity. Mixed Race and East Asian descents were 1.44 (95% CI 1.24–1.67) and 1.81 (95% CI 1.02–3.20) times more likely to experience caries than Whites after adjusting for age, sex, education and income. The difference in the likelihood of experiencing caries between Whites and African descents was not statistically significant after adjusting for years of education and family income. The results of mediation analysis confirmed that inequality of caries experience between Whites and Mixed Race and East Asian descents was mediated through education and income. The likelihood that Mixed Race and East Asian descents would experience caries compared to Whites was attenuated, by 14.8% and by 9.5% respectively, after adjusting for years of education and income.

Conclusions

Data analysis demonstrated that Whites have benefited more from the significant reduction in dental caries experience in 15 to 19 year old Brazilians, as compared to African descents and Mixed Race. Education and income fully explained ethnic inequalities in experience of dental caries between Whites and African descents, and largely explained inequalities between Whites and Mixed Race.

International approaches to Indigenous dental care: what can we learn?

Indigenous populations around the world have significantly poorer oral health and inequalities in access to dental care largely attribute to the social determinants of health. Reviewing international literature offers an opportunity to better understand appropriate approaches for policy and practice in Australia. This article is a descriptive narrative review based on primary research literature discussing informative international approaches to Indigenous dental care. Approaches identified in the literature included integration of dentistry with primary health care and traditional practice, training and use of oral health professionals and approaches used at different stages of life, particularly in the management of early childhood caries. The international literature provides a range of approaches to Indigenous oral health. Tailored, culturally appropriate family and community based initiatives that address the multidisciplinary issues confronting Indigenous communities were most highly regarded.

Oral health in a First Nations and a non-Aboriginal population in Manitoba

Objectives

To analyze the prevalence of poor oral health and selected determinants in First Nations (FN) and Caucasian samples in Manitoba, Canada.

Study design

Cross-sectional survey, nested in a cohort study.

Methods

FN and Caucasian participants completed a questionnaire on socio-demographic variables, oral health symptoms, and oral health-related behaviours as part of a broader cohort study comparing these ethnic groups for different chronic immune mediated diseases.

Results

Caucasians reported higher levels of employment, education, and urban dwelling than FNs (p<0.001). FNs reported smoking more, and having poorer oral health-related behaviours than Caucasians (p<0.001). After adjustment for age and sex, FN reported having more oral health symptoms than Caucasians (odds ratio (OR): 2.71; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.73, 4.52), but the association was reduced and not statistically significant after adjustment for other socio-demographic variables (OR=1.34; 95% CI: 0.58, 3.10). Oral health symptoms were associated with current smoking among FN (adjusted OR=2.67, 95% CI: 1.05, 6.78). Oral hygiene behaviours were significantly related to smoking status, rural living and education for both groups.

Conclusions

Oral health-related behaviours and smoking were found to be significant factors explaining poor oral health, which were lower for the FNs cohort than the Caucasian sample. However oral health and related behaviours were less related to their ethnicity than to socio-demographic factors, suggesting that policies to change behaviour will not result in lasting reductions in oral health differences between these groups in Manitoba.

The oral health of Indigenous children: a review of four nations

This review of the oral health of children in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA demonstrates that significant oral health inequalities exist in each nation. Despite traditionally low levels of disease in Indigenous communities, dental caries is now highly prevalent and of increased severity among Indigenous children in comparison to their non-Indigenous counterparts. Early childhood caries is particularly prevalent. The high level of dental disease experience at an early age is associated with increased rates of general anaesthesia and greater risk of dental caries in later life. The rates and severity of dental caries experienced by young Indigenous children are even more alarming when we consider that dental caries is essentially a preventable disease. The success of specific preventive programmes is encouraging; these approaches should be further evaluated and implemented as part of broader health promotion programmes for Indigenous children and families in order to decrease current oral health disparities.