Dental caries in a group of 20‐year‐olds after previous participation in public child dental health services in Copenhagen, Denmark

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Abstract
The prevalence of dental caries in a group of 20 yr olds who previously participated in Public Child Dental Health Services (Denmark) was investigated. Dental caries were related to social status and preventive visits to the private dentist after termination of school. The study population comprised 389 persons aged 20 yr, of which 313(80.5%) were examined clinically and radiographically by 1 dentist according to standardized criteria. Mean DMFT [decayed, missing, filled teeth] was 10.4 and mean DMFS [decayed missing filled surfaces] 16.7. Differences in relation to sex were not significant. The distribution of subjects according to DMFS was uneven. The 20% with the highest DMFS accounted for about 40% of the total amount of DMFS and for about 45% of the total amount of DS [decayed surface]. A consistent pattern with higher mean DMFS in the low social groups was found. Attendance to Regular Youth Dental Service was higher the longer the subjects were students and higher mean DMFS was found in nonregular attenders. The presence of a high caries risk group is discussed in relation to the dental care system received by the study population.

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