| Popis: |
Basing on the hypothesis that adult dental health is co-determined by the conditions and influences prevailing in the family of origin during childhood and adolescence, we analysed the associations of socio-economic status of the family, personal dental care behaviour and other educational and structural factors, with caries prevalence (DMF-T) and the level of restoration in 642 young men between 18 and 24 years eligible for conscription. Additionally, we presented the changes in caries prevalence in conscripted persons during the 1990s comparing our results with those of a study conducted in 1989-90.The average number of DMF-T teeth was 5.7. 15% of subjects were caries-free. The mean level of restoration in those with a history of caries was 79.2%. The prevalence of caries and the level of restoration were strongly associated with the level of education, and the socio-economic status of the family of origin. Parental working time, number of siblings, structural deficiencies in the family, parental preventive education and training with regard to dental care, frequency of brushing the teeth, belief in the success of preventive health measures and prevalence of fissure sealings were significantly associated with DMF-T. Frequency of dental visits showed an association with the level of restoration. From 1989/90 to 1998 prevalence of caries in conscripts decreased by 42% (after adjusting for the different levels of education of both studies the decrease was 36%). Whereas in 1989/90 the average number of DMF-T in the 9-year elementary school graduates exceeded those of the high school graduates ("seniors") by 22%, this difference increased to 88% by 1998. More than 40% of the differences in the prevalence of caries among subjects of different educational levels were due to risk factors of social origin, preventive dental behaviour and utilisation of dental services, all of these being less favourable in elementary school or secondary school graduates compared to high-school graduates. |
