The aim of the present study was to obtain baseline information about oral health, oral health behaviours and knowledge about prevention of oral diseases in newly arrived Somali children. All 310 Somali children arriving in four municipalities in Kronoberg County, Sweden, during 2013 participated. We collected interview data (background factors related to oral health) and performed a clinical examination (oral hygiene, marginal bone loss, malocclusion, dental caries) within the first two months after arrival. The children were analysed in three age groups: 3-6 years (n=49),7-11 years (n=125), and 12-17 years (n=136). The interview revealed that 78-82% of the children in the three groups had never visited a dental clinic in Somalia.Toothache was reported by 18-28% of the children. In the youngest group, 71% of the parents did not assist with tooth -cleaning and children commonly used a Miswak stick for cleaning. About half the children had poor oral hygiene while 25-33% reported daily intake of sugary snacks. Malocclusion affected 4o% of the 7 -11 -year -olds and 5o% of the 12 -17 -year -olds. Bone loss affected 13% of the 12-17-year-olds.The 3 -6 -year -olds had a high prevalence (37%) of missing primary, lower cuspids.Their mean number of decayed, extracted and filled primary teeth (deft) was 2.3, and 43% were free from caries. In the 7 -11 -year -olds, mean decayed and filled permanent teeth (DFT) was o.8, while in the 12 -17 -year -olds DFT was 2.2 with 4o% caries -free. Comparison with resident children indicates substantially higher caries prevalence among the Somali children. The study has shown that newly arrived Somali children often present with oral diseases and are in urgent need of treatment and have great need for oral health promotion.

Objective. This study evaluated oral health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL) in children and families before and after dental treatment under general anesthesia because of severe caries or molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH). Materials and methods. A consecutive sample of the parents/caregivers of children (3–14 years) in need of treatment under general anesthesia participated in the study. The children were divided into two groups: 3–6 years and 7–14 years. The 49-item questionnaire that was administered before and after general anesthesia comprised the Child Oral Health Quality of Life-components of the Parental-Caregivers Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ), the Family Impact Scale (FIS) and two global questions concerning oral health and general well-being. The P-CPQ domains were Oral symptoms, Functional limitations, Emotional well-being and Social well-being. The FIS items assessed impact on family life. Results. In both age groups, a significant decrease (p < 0.001) occurred in overall P-CPQ and the Oral symptoms, Functional limitations and Emotional limitations domains of the P-CPQ. Mean values for the Social well-being domain decreased significantly in the older (p < 0.05) but not the younger age group. Mean values for FIS decreased significantly in the younger (p < 0.001) and the older (p < 0.05) age groups. Conclusions. Dental treatment of severe caries or MIH, performed under general anesthesia, had an immediate effect on the oral health-related quality-of-life in the children in this study and a positive impact on the family situation.

AIM: To evaluate the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) and unintentional injuries (UIs) in Swedish children from 0 to 12 years of age, comparing those who were born preterm with matched full-term controls. The associations between TDI and UI and medical health problems or socio-demographic characteristics were also studied. METHODS: This cross-sectional, case-control study used dental record reviews and interviews to obtain TDI data on 187 matched pairs aged from 0 to 6 (Sample I) and a structured questionnaire to study TDI and UI among 82 matched pairs aged from 0 to 12 (Sample II). RESULTS: Reports of TDI in the primary teeth and permanent teeth from 0 to 12 years of age were significantly more common in the control than preterm born children (p = 0.032). No significant differences were seen in the 0-6 age group. When it came to UI, there were no statistical significant differences between the preterm and control groups and no correlations between TDI and UI and medical health problems or socio-demographic characteristics. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that preterm children are no more exposed to TDI or UI than matched full-term controls. In fact, the control group parents reported significantly higher prevalence of TDI in the primary and permanent teeth.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present survey was to study the association between dental caries and body mass index (BMI) in Swedish preschool children (born in 1999). METHODS: A population-based and cross-sectional study design was used comprising all 920 5-year-old children in a defined area in and around the city of Lund. Anthropometric measures for the calculation of BMI were retrieved for each child from recordings at Child Health Care Centers (CHC). The occurrence of caries and fillings in the primary dentition, defined as deft (decayed, extracted, or filled primary teeth) and dt (decayed primary teeth), was collected from the children's dental records. RESULTS: The mean BMI was 16.1 (no differences between boys and girls). About 19.2% were overweight, of which 5.1% were obese. Overweight or obese children did not have higher deft or dt than others. However, children with low BMI (below -1 SD of national mean values for Swedish 5-year-olds) had statistically significantly higher deft and dt than children with normal BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Children with low BMI may be at risk of caries development. Low BMI may be associated with eating habits endangering dental health.

Artikeln beskriver utvecklingen av tandhälsan bland Malmöbarn under de senaste 100 åren. Tandhälsan har förbättrats dramatiskt under de senaste 30-40 åren, men idag ser vi en ökning av kariesförekomsten, särskilt i områden med låg socio-ekonomisk nivå och hög arbetslöshet. Faktum är att situationen i stadsdelen Rosengård liknar den man såg i Sverige under 1960-talet. Artikeln beskriver ett preventionsprogram hos förskolebarn i Rosengård och presenterar ett antal förslag på hur man kan förbättra situationen i Malmö, särskilt i utsatta områden.

The article describes the development of the dental health among children in Malmö during the last 100 years. While the dental health has improved dramatically during the last 30-40 years, we now see an increase in caries prevalence, especially in areas of low socio-economic status and high unemployment. In fact, the situation in the suburban area of Rosengård resembles that seen in Sweden in general in the 1960:ies. The paper describes a caries preventive program in pre-school children in Rosengård, and presents a number of measures to be introduced to improve the situation in the city of Malmö, especially in socially deprived areas.

Although preterm birth is associated with an increased risk of medical problems and impairments, there is limited knowledge of how this affects oral health. It was hypothesized that when 10-12 yr of age, children who were preterm at birth would present with a higher prevalence of molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH), more dental plaque, and a higher degree of gingival inflammation than full-term control children. Eighty-two preterm children, born between 24 and 32 wk of gestation, and 82 control children, born between 37 and 43 wk of gestation, were clinically examined for developmental defects in enamel, MIH, dental plaque, and gingival health. In addition, behaviour management problems were evaluated. Information on any aetiological factors with a potential influence on MIH and oral health was collected via questionnaires. Molar-incisor hypomineralization was more common in preterm children than in controls (38% vs. 16%), as were enamel developmental defects (69.5% vs. 51%). Low gestational age and low birth weight increased the risk of MIH. Preterm children had more plaque, a higher degree of gingival inflammation, and more behaviour-management problems than controls. In conclusion, oral health problems were more common in preterm children than in control children.

According to previous studies, minor glands produce about 35% of the total salivary immunoglobulin A (salivary IgA). The age-dependent increase in whole-saliva salivary IgA concentrations has been studied extensively, but we found no published reports comparing the minor-gland saliva concentrations of salivary IgA in children, adolescents, and adults. In this study we measured the concentration of salivary IgA in saliva from the labial and the buccal minor glands of children, adolescents, and adults. Three age groups donated saliva for analysis: 3-yr-old children, 14-yr-old adolescents, and 20- to 25-yr-old adults. Minor-gland saliva was collected on filter paper and unstimulated whole saliva was collected by draining into a tube, and the salivary IgA concentration was determined by ELISA. The salivary IgA concentration in labial saliva was significantly lower among 3-yr-old children (0.037 mg 100 ml(-1), SD = 0.035) than among 14-yr-old adolescents (0.126 mg 100 ml(-1), SD = 0.128) and adults (0.128 mg 100 ml(-1), SD = 0.13). The 3-yr-old children also had significantly lower whole-saliva salivary IgA values compared with the other age groups (0.09 mg 100 ml(-1), SD = 0.091; 0.179 mg 100 ml(-1), SD = 0.149; and 0.170 mg 100 ml(-1), SD = 0.099, respectively). This increase in salivary IgA concentrations with age might reflect a developing immune response in the growing child.

The aim was to calculate the total and the net costs per child included in a 3-year caries preventive program for preschool children and to make estimates of expected lowest and highest costs in a sensitivity analysis. The direct costs for prevention and dental care were applied retrospectively to a comprehensive oral health outreach project for preschool children conducted in a low-socioeconomic multi-cultural urban area. The outcome was compared with historical controls from the same area with conventional dental care. The cost per minute for the various dental professions was added to the cost of materials, rental facilities and equipment based on accounting data. The cost for fillings was extracted from a specified per diem list. Overhead costs were assumed to correspond to 50% of salaries and all costs were calculated as net present value per participating child in the program and expressed in Euro. The results revealed an estimated total cost of 310 Euro per included child (net present value) in the 3-year program. Half of the costs were attributed to the first year of the program and the costs of manpower constituted 45% of the total costs. When the total cost was reduced with the cost of conventional care and the revenue of avoided fillings, the net cost was estimated to 30 Euro. A sensitivity analysis displayed that a net gain could be possible with a maximal outcome of the program. In conclusion, the estimated net costs were displayed and available to those considering implementation of a similar population-based preventive program in areas where preschool children are at high caries risk

BACKGROUND: An enhanced frequency of cognitive and behavioural disturbances has been reported in preterm children. It is not known if this affects their perceptions of or behaviour in the dental care situation. HYPOTHESIS: The hypotheses were that preterm (PT) children aged 12-14 years more often exhibit dental fear and anxiety (DFA) than full-term controls (C), while no differences were expected regarding oral health behaviour. METHODS: One hundred and nine PT and 108 C children took part in the present questionnaire study. DFA was assessed using the Children's Fear Survey Schedule - Dental Subscale (CFSS-DS). In addition the questionnaire covered items including satisfaction with received dental care, oral health behaviour and medical health. RESULTS: The children's CFSS-DS scores revealed no differences between the PT and C groups. Regarding oral health behaviour there were no differences, except that PT children more often used dental floss and extra fluoride supplements. PT children reported more medical health problems than C children. CONCLUSIONS: Preterm (PT) children 12- to 14-years-old, as well as C of same age group, seem to be satisfied with their dental care and display low prevalence of DFA. Still, a higher frequency of medical health problems in the PT children suggests that these children should be regarded as potential risk patients for oral health problems.