Forty years of national surveys: An overview of children's dental health from 1973-2013

Key Points Reviews the main results of the 2013 Children's Dental Health (CDH) Survey. Outlines trends in dental disease in children over a 40-year period. Illustrates the decline in caries in primary and permanent teeth. Predicts the relevance of the number of sound teeth in 15-year-olds affecting adult dental health. Summarises attitudinal and behavioural characteristics. Introduction The first national survey of children's dental health in England and Wales was carried out in 1973. Subsequent surveys, in 1983, 1993 and 2003, included all United Kingdom health departments. The 2013 survey involved England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Aim To consider all five surveys, from 1973 to 2013, so as to summarise trends in the dental health of children in the UK over the last 40 years. Materials and method The 2013 survey was commissioned by the Health & Social Care Information Centre and all surveys used data collected during dental examinations conducted in schools on a random sample of children by NHS dentists, together with a questionnaire to parents of those children. In 2013, a pupil questionnaire for 12- and 15-year-olds was introduced, to complement information received from parents and carers. Results A total of 69,318 children, aged 5–15 years, were involved, from 1973-2013. Caries prevalence has reduced from 72% to 41% in 5-year-olds, and from 97% to 46% in 15-year-olds in 40 years. Changes in periodontal disease, orthodontic treatment, accidental damage to anterior teeth, tooth surface loss and enamel defects, are also summarised. Behavioural and attitudinal characteristics observed in the 2013 report are listed. Conclusions Caries is now concentrated in a minority of children. The prevalence of gingivitis has not changed a great deal in 40 years. About half of those children assessed 'in orthodontic need' receive treatment.