Oral health status and Unmet Restorative Treatment Needs (UTN) in disadvantaged migrant and not migrant children in Italy

Authors

  • GF Ferrazzano School of Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Oral Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples
  • T Cantile School of Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Oral Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples
  • G Sangianantoni School of Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Oral Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples
  • A Ingenito School of Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Oral Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples
  • S Rengo School of Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Oral Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples
  • B Alcidi School of Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Oral Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples
  • G Spagnuolo Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University "Federico II" of Naples, Naples, Italy - I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Institute of Dentistry, Moscow

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2019.20.01.02

Keywords:

Disadvantaged children, Oral health status, Unmet Restorative Treatment Needs (UNT)

Abstract

AIM: Despite a global decline in caries experience in children, dental caries remains a common and persistent public health problem, being more prevalent among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. The aim of this survey is to evaluate DMFT index, caries prevalence and Unmet Restorative Treatment Needs (UNT) index in migrant and not migrant children with low income, in Campania region (Italy), in order to plan and build up strategies for promoting dental health in children and adequate health care for vulnerable groups. MATERIALS: A sample of 553 children (age range: 12–14 years old) were recruited from volunteer patients at a charitable foundation in Naples (Italy) and were categorised into 2 subgroups, according to their status of "migrant" or "not migrant". Parents completed a questionnaire in order to investigate demographic and oral health behaviour. The participants were healthy and from low family income levels. DMFT scores and caries prevalence were calculated; UNT index was also calculated [D?(D + F)]%. The mean DMFT values related to the examined variables were calculated using one-way ANOVA. CONCLUSION: Economically disadvantaged children showed high levels of dental caries. Furthermore, DMFT values, caries prevalence and unmet restorative treatment needs index among migrant children were higher than that of not migrant. In order to reduce inequalities in dental caries experience, there is a need to design policies aimed at primary prevention through health promotion programmes.