Abstract

SMIT, DA; BARRIE, RB  and  LOUW, AJ. The burden of dental caries in the Western Cape and a recommended turn-around strategy. S. Afr. dent. j. [online]. 2017, vol.72, n.8, pp.360-365. ISSN 0375-1562.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2519-0105/2017/v72no8a3.

Oral diseases are mostly preventable and their prevention should be a top priority for health managers and oral health professionals. Oral health services data from 2011 to 2015 is compared with the National Children Oral Health Survey conducted in 1999 - 2002. Dental caries is amongst the most common diseases experienced in children. The Western Cape records the highest prevalence of dental caries among children of the ages 4 - 5, 6, 12 and 15 years, which has increased between 2002 and 2015, for six year olds (2011: 82% to 2015: 84%) and for 12 year olds ( 2003: 62% to 2015: 67%). Caries severity was measured in dmft- and DMFT-scores. Between 2003 and 2015, dmft in 6-year-olds increased by 13%, from 5.5 to 6.2, whilst DMFT in 12 year-olds showed an increase of 0.5 (2 to 2.5). Given these persistently high levels, current prevention strategies are clearly failing. It is crucial that decision makers implement health strategies that focus on promoting good oral health and preventing oral disease. This requires a shift away from the current predominantly emergency service of dental extractions.

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