children living in a remote region of Alaska who required full mouth dental rehabilitations (FMDRs), including extractions and/or restorations of multiple carious teeth performed under general anesthesia. In this remote region, approximately 400 FMDRs were performed in AN children aged <6 years i...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2008
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.647.93 http://www.anthc.org/cs/dehe/envhlth/ehc/upload/MMWR.pdf |
| Summary: | children living in a remote region of Alaska who required full mouth dental rehabilitations (FMDRs), including extractions and/or restorations of multiple carious teeth performed under general anesthesia. In this remote region, approximately 400 FMDRs were performed in AN children aged <6 years in 2007; the region has approximately 600 births per year. Dental caries can cause pain, which can affect children’s normal growth and development (1). AIP and Alaska DHSS conducted an investigation of dental caries and associated risk factors among children in the remote region. A convenience sample of children aged 4–15 years in five villages (two with fluoridated water and three without) was examined to estimate dental caries prevalence and severity. Risk factor information was obtained by interviewing parents. Among children aged 4–5 years and 12–15 years who were evaluated, 87 % and 91%, respectively, had dental caries, compared with 35 % and 51% of U.S. children in those age groups. Among children from the Alaska villages, those aged 4–5 years had a mean of 7.3 dental caries, and those aged 12–15 years had a mean of 5.0, compared with 1.6 and 1.8 dental caries in same-aged U.S. children (2). Of the multiple factors assessed, lack of water fluoridation and soda pop consumption were significantly associated with dental caries severity. Collaborations between tribal, state, and federal agencies to provide effective preventive interventions, such as water fluoridation of villages with suitable water systems and provision of fluoride varnishes, should be encouraged. This Alaska region is comprised of 52 villages and has a population of approximately 25,000; 85 % are Yup’ik Eskimo. The villages are small and remote, are commercially accessible only by air or boat, and have limited medical and dental resources; at the time of the investigation, four full-time dentists were working in the region. Sixteen villages (30%) have no in-home water and sanitation services, and only four (8%) have fluoridated water systems. |
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