Prevalence of Dental Caries and Periodontal Disease in Mexican American Children Aged 5 to 17 Years: Results from Southwestern HHANES, 1982-83.

Abstract: This paper describes the estimated prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease in 2,550 children, 5 through 17 years of age, who resided in five southwestern states of the United States and were examined in the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) of 1982-84 of the National Center tot Health Statistics. Dental caries in the Mexican American children was predominantly a disease of occlusal surfaces of molars: few smooth surfaces of posterior and anterior teeth were affected by caries. This intra-oral distribution of dental caries strongly supports the use of fissure sealants as a preventive procedure. Filled tooth surfaces contributed about 66 per ¢ of the total DMFS (decayed, missing, filled surfaces) scores. The analysis also shows that about 50 per ¢ of the 17 year old Mexican Americans had five or more filled or decayed teeth. Mild gingivitis was prevalent (76.9 per ¢) in the Mexican American children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]