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To explore breastfeeding from 6 to 18 months of age and to study the association between breastfeeding and caries prevalence at 5 years of age. The study included 1088 children from one Norwegian county and was based on the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). The children had clinical dental examination at 5 years of age, and parents answered a questionnaire, which included information on breastfeeding, oral health behaviour and child characteristic. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed. The study was ethically approved. Of the studied children, 77% were breastfed at 6 months of age and 16% were still breastfed at 18 months of age. Few children (6%) were breastfed during night at 18 months of age, while 11% received sugary drink during night. No association was found between breastfeeding up to 18 months of age and caries prevalence at 5 years of age (p >.05). Children who at 18 months of age had their teeth brushed less than twice daily (OR 2.4, CI 1.5–3.9), consumed sugary drink once a week or more often (OR 1.7, CI 1.1–2.7) and had non-Western parents (OR 3.4, CI 1.5–8.1) were more likely to have caries experience at 5 years of age than other children. Breastfeeding up to 18 months of age was not associated with caries development during preschool age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore frequency of tooth brushing, dental flossing, fluoride supplements and sugar snacking in 12-year-olds, and to study how these oral health behaviours were associated with background characteristics and caries prevalence. The study included 4779 children. Data were collected by clinical examination and questionnaires regarding oral health behaviours and child characteristics. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Data were tested using Chi-square statistics and analyzed by logistic regression. The study was ethically approved. Of the children, 81% brushed twice daily, 36% flossed once a week or more often, 39% used fluoride supplements daily and 48% consumed sugar between meals once a week or less often. Children who brushed twice daily more often flossed regularly, used fluoride daily and consumed sugar between meals less often than other children (p <.05). Girls and children whose parents had long education more often had favourable oral health behaviours than other children; brushed more frequently, more often used floss and fluoride supplements and consumed sugary snacks less often than other children (p <.05). In total, 40% of the children were caries-free. Children who brushed less than twice daily had more often caries than other children (OR 1.50, CI 1.29–1.74) when controlling for background characteristics and other oral health behaviours. The majority of children brushed twice daily and these children had caries less often than other children. The use of dental floss, fluoride supplements or sugar snacking in addition to brushing twice daily, did not reduce the probability of having caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to follow attendance patterns longitudinally by exploring length of intervals between routine dental examinations in children at the ages of 5 and 12 years, and study associations between length of recall intervals and caries prevalence, controlled for gender, parent's background and parent's education. Materials and methods: The study included 2960 children in one Norwegian county monitored from 5 to 12 years of age. Data were collected at clinical examinations, from dental records and by parental questionnaires. Length of recall intervals was dichotomized into short (shorter than 18 months) and long (18 months and longer). Data were analysed and tested using Chi-square statistics, correlation coefficient and multivariate regression. The study was ethically approved. Results: Recall intervals were individualized and varied from 4 to 30 months. The most frequent used recall intervals were 12, 18, 20 and 24 months. A majority of children at both ages were given long recall intervals. Multivariate logistic regression showed that the probability of having short interval was higher in children having caries experience than in caries-free children at both 5 years (OR 12.6 CI 9.9-16.0) and 12 years (OR 2.7 CI 2.3-3.1). At 5 years of age, length of recall intervals was associated with parents' background (OR 1.8 CI 1.4-2.4) and parents' education (OR 1.3 CI 1.0-1.5). Conclusions: The results showed that routine intervals were individualized and extended, indicating that more resources were spent on children with the highest need of dental care, aiming at reducing health inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The purpose was to study associations between tooth brushing frequency, use of fluoride lozenges and consumption of sugary drinks at 1.5 years of age and having caries experience at 5 years of age. Methods. This study was based on data from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and by the Public Dental Services. A total of 1095 children were followed from pregnancy to the age of 5 years. Questionnaires regarding oral health behavior were completed by the parents at 1.5 and 5 years of age. Clinical and radiographic examination of the children was performed at the age of 5 years. Results. In multiple logistic regression, having caries experience at 5 years of age was associated with; at 1.5 years of age having the teeth brushed less than twice daily (OR = 2.1, CI = 1.3-3.6) and being offered sugary drinks at least once a week (OR = 1.8, CI = 1.1-2.9) when controlled for family characteristics and oral health behavior at 5 years of age. Conclusions. Tooth brushing frequency and consumption of sugary drinks in early childhood were related to caries development during pre-school age, independent of family characteristics and oral health behavior at 5 years of age. The results indicate that early established habits regarding tooth brushing and consumption of sugary drinks have long-term effects on caries development. Parents encountering difficulties in establishing favorable oral health behavior in children's first years of life should receive special attention from health personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate associations between oral health-related quality of life assessed with the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14 and demographic factors, number of teeth present, dental visits, dental health behaviour and self-rated oral health in a representative sample of 20--80-year-old Norwegians. Material and methods. The study was conducted in a stratified random sample of 3538 individuals. Questionnaires including questions on demographic factors, number of remaining teeth, dental visits, dental health behaviour, self-rated oral health and OHIP-14 were mailed to the sample. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results. The response rate was 69%. The mean OHIP-14 score was 4.1 (standard deviation == 6.2). No problem was reported by 35% of the respondents. The most frequently reported problems were: physical pain (56%), psychological discomfort (39%) and psychological disability (30%). When the effect of all independent variables was analysed in multivariate analysis, self-rated oral health, frequency of dental visits, number of teeth, age and sex were significantly ( P < 0.05) associated with the prevalence of having problems and frequent problems. Self-rated oral health had the strongest association with having problems [odds ratio (OR) 4.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.4--6.0] and with having frequent problems (OR 4.0; 95% CI 2.7--5.8). Dental health behaviour, use of floss and toothpicks and oral rinsing were not associated with having problems related to oral quality of life in multivariate analyses. Conclusion. In this Norwegian adult sample, self-rated oral health, frequency of dental visits, number of teeth, age and sex were associated with having problems as estimated using the OHIP-14. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental hygienists are used as first-line personnel in child dental care in Norway, and have an increasing influence on the delivery of preventive dental services. The purpose of this study was to describe: (1) preventive methods reported by hygienists in child dental care in Norway and (2) changes in preventive care during the 9-year period 1995 to 2004. Questionnaires were sent to all dental hygienists in the public dental services in Norway in 1995 and 2004; 70% (199 of 286) were returned in 1995 and 71% (210 of 297) in 2004. The hygienists considered one-third of children to be at risk of caries and spent 45 min of preventive care on these children every 16th month, while the remaining children were given 15 min of prevention every 20th month. One-third of the hygienists provided fluoride varnish for all children and one-fourth placed sealants routinely. Ninety percent of the hygienists reported that all children were given information on diet, hygiene, and fluoride. Most of the preventive practices of dental hygienists reflected limited changes in the period 1995 to 2004. However, the hygienists had reduced the use of fluoride varnishes and less often recommended fluoride tablets. The majority of hygienists reported that they individualized clinical prevention, while individual oral health information was standardized and given to all children. The results indicate that in 2004 a preventive approach combining individual information for all with intensified clinical prevention for children considered at risk was followed in child dental care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most but not all the Nordic countries, the National Boards of Health have issued guidelines governing the utilization of fluoride. The purpose of this paper is to outline the process of policy formation, describe the current fluoride guidelines in the Nordic countries, and discuss compliance with and appropriateness of the guidelines. The fluoride guidelines summarize current knowledge and make recommendations on choice of fluoride preparations (supplements, toothpaste, and varnish) and doses. Fluoride policies in the Nordic countries in the late 1990s state that use of fluoride toothpaste twice a day is the preferred and sufficient source of fluoride for the majority of the population. The policies of the Nordic countries are similar, but there are differences, some of them self-explanatory others not so obvious. In the case of supplements, for example, there are differences in the recommended dosage schedules. In the case of toothpaste, it is unclear what concentrations of fluoride are recommended both for children and for adults. Starting time for the use of fluoride, whether toothpaste or supplements, varies between countries. The clinicians' compliance with fluoride guidelines has not been systematically evaluated. Comparing the advice and treatments offered by dentists in the Nordic countries with current guidelines suggests that national policies influence the practice of clinicians. For government policy to be appropriate, it is imperative that the guidelines are based on sound scientific evidence. It is thus concluded that if non-evidence-based elements are included in national guidelines, this should be clearly stated to prevent confusion and enhance compliance from professionals and the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the provision of preventive care for children and adolescents in Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in the 1990s. It includes information on personnel giving preventive care, administration of the dental care system, strategies and methods used for prevention, and resources allocated for preventive dental care. In all these countries comprehensive and systematic dental care, subsidized or free of charge, has been instituted for children and adolescents. However, comparisons between the countries show significant differences in the organization of the dental care for children, the time used for preventive care, the recall routines, and the implementation of risk-based and population-based preventive strategies. The relative importance of different caries-prevention methods (fluorides, hygiene, and diet) reported by the clinicians varied between Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. While variation poses rather than answers questions concerning effectiveness, available data provide evidence of differences in the input of resources. Unless the dental profession addresses the issue of effectiveness of preventive dental care, politicians and administrators in a cost-containment context will easily conclude that least is best. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]