A. Kingdon

The effect of orthodontic treatment on plaque and gingivitis

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the relationship between the receipt of orthodontic treatment and subsequent periodontal health. Data from 417 children who were classified at baseline as having significant occlusal variations and who were present at the follow-up examination 3 years later were selected from an original cohort of 1015. One hundred fourteen of these children received orthodontic treatment over this time period and provided two groups of children for comparison in this study. Plaque indices, bleeding indices, and degree of dental irregularity were recorded for each incisor and canine tooth. There were significant reductions in the plaque and gingivitis scores on all tooth surfaces between the baseline and 3-year examination in the two groups of children. The children who had received orthodontic treatment had the greater reduction, but this appeared to be more related to behavioral factors than to improved tooth alignment.

The effect of social class on the prevalence of caries, plaque, gingivitis and pocketing in 11–12-year-old children in South Wales

Abstract The effect of social class on the dental disease status of a group of 11–12-year-old schoolchildren in South Wales is presented. There were a number of differences between the social classes for the DMFT, DMFS and DFS indices, with social class I having significantly less caries experience than the others. These differences, however, were largely confined to the boys. There appeared to be no significant difference in reported toothbrushing frequency between the social classes but the children from the lower social classes admitted spending significantly more on sweets per week. The plaque and gingival bleeding scores showed an overall trend to increase from social class I through to social class V. The girls, in particular, showed progressively increasing and significantly different mean plaque and gingivitis scores.

Changes in the distribution of decayed and filled tooth surfaces and the progression of approximal caries in children between the ages of 11-12 years and 15-16 years

Changes in the distribution of decayed and filled tooth surfaces and the progression of approximal caries in children between the ages of 11-12 years and 15-16 years

Factors influencing the initiation of carious lesions in specific tooth surfaces over a 4-year period in children betweem the ages of 11–12 years and 15–16 years

An analysis of factors influencing the initiation of carious lesions on specific tooth surfaces over a 4-year period in children between the ages of 11-12 years and 15-16 years is presented. Approximately 1000 children, resident in the County of South Glamorgan, Wales, were assessed for caries status and oral cleanliness in 1980 when aged 11-12 years and again in 1984 when aged 15-16 years. On both occasions, the children completed detailed questionnaires on dental health-related topics. Surfaces which were sound when the children were 11-12 years were identified and subsequently awarded a score of zero if they remained sound at 15-16 years or a score of one if they had developed carious lesions or had been filled. For each child, a mean mouth caries initiation score was computed for specific groups of surfaces, namely pit and fissure surfaces in posterior teeth, approximal surfaces in posterior teeth, buccal and lingual smooth surfaces of all teeth and approximal surfaces of anterior teeth. One-way analysis of variance and multiple regression techniques revealed that a number of factors had a significant influence on the initiation of caries. The factors and their level of significance varied between the surfaces. However, relatively little (less than 6 per cent) of the total variance in caries initiation score could be explained by the identified factors. Overall, more lesions developed in pit and fissure surfaces in posterior teeth than in the other surfaces included in the analyses.

Factors influencing the caries experience of a group of children at the ages of 11–12 and 15–16 years: results from an ongoing epidemiological survey

An analysis of factors influencing the caries experience of adolescents in South Wales is presented. Approximately 1000 children were assessed for caries status and oral cleanliness in 1980 when aged 11-12 years and again in 1984 when aged 15-16 years. In addition, on both occasions, the children completed detailed questionnaires on dental health-related topics. When aged 11-12 years, the observed mean DMFT, DMFS and DFS scores of the children were 4.0, 6.7 and 5.5 respectively. The corresponding scores at age 15-16 years were 6.5, 11.8 and 10.2. A preliminary analysis using conventional multiple regression techniques revealed that a number of factors had a significant influence on the caries experience of the children. The significance of the factors depended on the sex of the population subgroup, the age of the children and the particular caries index studied. However, at both ages the factors of most significance were the number of erupted teeth, total mean plaque score and the reported amount of money spent on sweets per week. A further evaluation using analysis of covariance with the number of erupted teeth and surfaces as the covariates confirmed the significant influence of the total mean plaque score and amount of money spent on sweets. In addition, both analyses indicated that toothbrushing frequency and social class had a significant influence on the caries experience of boys.

An evaluation of the 1996 No Smoking Day in Wales

This paper reports on a panel survey undertaken by Health Promotion Wales to evaluate the impact that No Smoking Day 1996 had on smokers in Wales and to what extent the day met its main objectives. Baseline interviews with 829 smokers were conducted shortly before No Smoking Day and two follow-up surveys were conducted, one a week after and one three months after the day. The findings indicate a high level of awareness of No Smoking Day and an encouraging level of participation on the day. Longer-term impact on cessation is more difficult to assess but the findings indicate a quit rate at three months in the range of 0.3 to 1.8 per cent. Further analysis suggests that certain groups of smokers, and smokers at certain stages of quitting, are more likely to be motivated by the day, in particular those who had firm plans to quit at the time of the interviews.

The relationship between loss of first permanent molar teeth and the prevalence of caries and restorations in adjacent teeth: a study of 15–16-year-old children

Abstract The relationship between loss of first permanent molar teeth and the prevalence of caries and restorations in the surfaces of adjacent teeth was assessed in a group of 793 children, aged 15–16 years old. The data obtained from the children was divided into two subgroups. Group 1 comprised those arches in which the first permanent molar had been retained, and Group 2 contained those arches in which the first permanent molar had been extracted before the age of 11–12 years. The disease status of the mesial and occlusal surfaces of second molars and the distal and occlusal surfaces of second premolars was examined visually and radiographically in both groups. Arches with missing first molars had significantly fewer decayed and filled approximal surfaces but significantly more decayed and filled occlusal surfaces in the adjacent second molar and premolar teeth than those arches which had not lost the first molar. The implications of these findings are discussed.