Biomedical subjects

Keith M Milsom

Publications and source records attributed to Keith M Milsom.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

The geodemographic distribution of caries experience in neighboring fluoridated and nonfluoridated populations.

OBJECTIVE: This study compares the geodemographic distribution of caries experience in neighboring fluoridated and nonfluoridated populations. METHODS: All 5-year-old children living in fluoridated (N=1,422) and nonfluoridated (N=4,779) areas of Cheshire, UK, were examined by trained and calibrated examiners. The Target Market level of the Super Profiles geodemographic classification was used to produce market penetration ranking reports for caries experience. The same area types were compared in fluoridated and nonfluoridated populations. Lorenz curves and Gini coefficients were generated from the outputs of the penetration rankings. RESULTS: There was a 12.4 percent difference in prevalence and a 29.4 percent difference in dmft between fluoridated (dmft>0=32.4%, dmft=1.01) and nonfluoridated (dmft>0=37.0%, dmft=1.43) areas. The area types at the top of both penetration rankings were deprived in nature and those at the bottom were affluent. The Gini coefficients in each area were 22.7 and 23.7 percent. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that water fluoridation is effective at preventing dental disease after controlling for confounding factors. In both populations the majority of disease was not confined to a small number of deprived area types. This undermines the contention that a targeted approach to caries prevention is a practical option.

Child↗

PubMed2003

Comparing different methods to detect and correct nonresponse bias in postal questionnaire studies.

OBJECTIVES: This study compares methods for detecting and correcting the bias associated with nonresponse to postal questionnaires. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent out in three sequential stages to parents of all 5-year-old children examined in a clinical survey. Each stage progressively targeted nonresponders. Data on dmft and area measures of socioeconomic status were available for all children. Estimates for whole population dmft were produced by different methodologies comparing the relationship between dmft and stage of response and three area measures of socioeconomic status. RESULTS: A total of 1,776 children were examined and 1,437 questionnaires were obtained, a response rate of 80.9 percent. The mean dmft of the total population (1.49) was 17.3 percent more than responders (1.27). The dmft of the nonresponders was 2.41, 89.7 percent more than responders. There were significant linear trends in dmft and socioeconomic status across the mailing stages. The methodology using mailing stage regressed against dmft produced the most accurate adjusted dmft value (1.42). The methods using area measures of socioeconomic status produced nearly identical adjusted dmft values ranging from 1.31 to 1.32. CONCLUSIONS: Even with an "acceptable" response rate, nonresponse bias can still be present. Researchers should report the outcomes of analyses to detect nonresponse bias when publishing questionnaire studies.

Bias↗

PubMed2002

Outcomes associated with restored and unrestored deciduous molar teeth.

INTRODUCTION: Most dental treatment for children in the United Kingdom (UK) is provided by general dental practitioners (GDPs) working in the National Health Service (NHS). A working party of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry, in a special publication from the Dental Practice Board, has suggested that failure to provide restorative care for the deciduous dentition is unacceptable, yet GDPs are filling fewer teeth in young children. The study aimed to evaluate the health outcomes obtained from restoring carious deciduous molar teeth. METHOD: The dental records of 677 children cared for by 50 GDPs in the north west of England were analysed. RESULTS: The results showed that 18.8% of deciduous molars with unrestored caries and 17.0% with a history of restorative care went on to be extracted because of pain or sepsis. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the risk of carious deciduous molars being extracted is similar whether these teeth receive restorative care or not.

Dental Caries↗