PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P E Petersen

Publications and source records attributed to P E Petersen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Salt fluoridation--an alternative in automatic prevention of dental caries.

Despite great improvements in terms of reduced prevalence and amount of dental caries in populations worldwide, problems still persist particularly among the underprivileged groups of both developed and developing countries. Research and practical experience gained in several countries have demonstrated however, that dental caries can be prevented effectively through establishment of fluoride programmes. Water fluoridation, salt fluoridation, milk fluoridation and use of affordable fluoridated toothpastes play the major roles in public health. The present paper outlines the relevance and some practical aspects in relation to implementation of salt fluoridation programmes. The World Health Organisation Oral Health Programme provides technical assistance to countries in the process of planning, implementing and evaluating salt fluoridation projects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Oral health status in relation to ethnicity of children in the Municipality of Copenhagen, Denmark.

UNLABELLED: Approximately 25% of children under the age of 18 in the Municipality of Copenhagen have a non-Danish ethnic background, and it is suspected that there may be major inequalities in oral health as a result. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to describe the occurrence of dental caries in different ethnic minorities, and to analyse whether the dental caries experience of the children may be affected by cultural and behavioural differences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in Copenhagen as a cross-sectional investigation of 794 children, aged 3 and 5 years old (preschool), 7 years old (Grade 1) and 15 years old (Grade 9). Children of Danish, Turkish, Pakistani, Albanian, Somali and Arabian backgrounds were selected by convenience sampling. Epidemiological data were retrieved from the Danish Recording System for the Public Dental Health Services (SCOR) and sociological data were collected by postal questionnaires. RESULTS: Marked differences in dental caries prevalence were observed when different ethnic minorities were compared to Danish children. These were most prominent for the primary dentition. At age 7, 53% of the Danish and 84% of the Albanian children were affected by dental caries, the mean caries experience was 3.5 dmfs (decayed, missed and filled surfaces) and 13.8 dmfs, respectively. Caries in incisors and/or smooth surfaces was observed in 10% of the Danish children and 48% of the Albanian children. There were cultural differences in dental attendance and self-care practices of children and parents. These socio-behavioural factors may help to explain the differences in dental caries prevalence and severity. CONCLUSIONS: Development of appropriate oral health promotion strategies is urgently needed to improve oral health behaviour and attitudes of parents and children of ethnic minorities. Preventive programs should be organized at local community level in close collaboration with key persons of ethnic minority societies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Oral health behaviour of schoolchildren and parents in Jordan.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were: (i) to assess the level of dental knowledge and attitudes towards child dental care among parents in Jordan, (ii) to analyse the oral health care habits of schoolchildren and parents, and (iii) to evaluate the oral hygiene habits and use of professional dental services of children in relation to socio-demographic conditions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaires for parents. SAMPLE AND METHODS: National representative sample of 6-16-year-olds living in urban areas (n = 1556, children and parents, response rate 92%, 48.7% boys, 51.3% girls). RESULTS: In all, 80% of the parents knew about the harmful effect of sugar and 79% thought that poor oral hygiene may induce dental caries. In addition to proper oral hygiene (79%) and restriction of sugar/sweets (42%), 36% of the parents emphasized regular dental visits for the prevention of dental disease in children. However, most children saw a dentist for symptomatic reasons only (86%), while 11% attended for dental check-ups. At their last visit to the dentist, 49% of the children had tooth extraction and only 8% had preventive services (fissure sealing). Toothbrushing at least twice a day was reported for 31% of the children; 14% of children aged 6-9 years had assistance from adults in brushing. Dental care habits of children were highly affected by dental visiting habits of parents, and variations by level of education of parents were also found. CONCLUSIONS: The discrepancy between dental knowledge and attitudes of parents and oral health care practices indicate the need for oral health education. School-based oral health promotion programmes should be established in Jordan to influence the oral health behaviour of children and parents and to avoid further deterioration in their oral health.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Oral health status and oral health behaviour of urban and rural schoolchildren in Southern Thailand.

AIM: To describe the level of oral disease in urban and rural schoolchildren in Southern Thailand; to analyse self-care practices and dental visiting habits of 12-year-olds, and to assess the effect of socio-behavioural factors on dental caries experience. DESIGN: A cross sectional study of 6- and 12-year-old children, urban and rural schools chosen at random from 19 districts of one province. SETTING: Suratthani Province, Southern Thailand. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,156 children of grade 1 (6 yrs) and 1,116 children of grade 6 (12yrs). METHODS: Clinical recordings of dental caries and periodontal CPI scores 0, 1 or 2 according to WHO; structured interviews of 12-year-olds (n=1,084) concerning oral health behaviour and attitudes. RESULTS: At age 6, 96.3% of children had caries and mean dmft was 8.1. In 12-year-olds, 70% had caries in permanent teeth and the level of DMFT was 2.4. Experience of pain during the previous 12 months was reported by 53% of 12-year-olds, 66% saw a dentist within the previous year and 24% reported that visits were due to troubles in teeth. Toothbrushing at least once a day was claimed by 88%. Significant numbers of the children reported having hidden sugar every day: soft drinks (24%), milk with sugar (34%), and tea with sugar (26%). Important predictors of high caries experience were dental visits, consumption of sweets, ethnic group (Muslim) and sex (girls) whereas lower risk was observed in children with positive oral health attitudes. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic health education may further improve the oral health of Thai children and the primary school provides a unique setting for such programmes.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Dental caries and dental health behavior of patients with primary Sjögren syndrome.

This comprehensive study was carried out to describe and analyze the oral health status, perceived oral health problems, patients' costs, and oral health behavior in a group of patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (PSS). In particular, the objective of this report was to assess whether Sjögren syndrome patients had more dental caries experience than a control group. Data were collected by means of interviews and clinical oral examinations. The study comprised 53 patients with PSS and a control group of 53 persons matched by age. Among the younger patients the number of decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) was 22.3, compared with 18.8 among controls (P< 0.05). In parallel, the DMFT in the old-age PSS patients was 26.2, against a DMFT of 22.1 for controls (P< 0.001). On average, the young patients had seven teeth missing, whereas two missing teeth were found among controls (P < 0.01). PSS patients had more frequent dental visits--every 3-4 months (40%)--than controls (19%). In parallel, 78% of the PSS patients brushed their teeth more than twice daily, compared with 28% of the control group. The PSS patient group reported having had more teeth extracted, more trouble with their teeth during lifetime, and higher expenses for dental treatment than controls. In spite of the more regular oral health care practices than the general population, PSS patients had experienced more dental caries and more radical dental treatment. It is suggested that the National Health Insurance should give emphasis to preventive care to patients with PSS.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Periodontal disease in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

UNLABELLED: Occurrence of periodontal disease in Sjögrens's syndrome (SS) is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: To examine if the risk of gingival and periodontal conditions was increased in SS compared to the general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven patients (4 men, 53 women) with primary Sjögren's syndrome (Copenhagen criteria) and an age-matched representative sample of the general population of 80 controls (all women) were examined for gingival and periodontal disease. RESULTS: Gingival bleeding and supra-gingival calculus did not differ among SS patients and controls. Subgingival calculus occurred more often among the younger SS patients than controls, but did not differ among the older SS patients and controls. Periodontal pockets of 4-5 mm as well as pockets > 5 mm occurred with similar prevalences among the two groups. Smoking habits did not influence the results. The health status of the gingival and periodontal tissues were thus similar in SS and controls. CONCLUSION: Primary SS is not associated with increased risk of periodontal disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Oral health of 18-year-old adolescents in Hungary].

UNLABELLED: It is strongly suggested by WHO to undertake a regular epidemiological survey in 5-year intervals to monitor changes in oral health. In Hungary national epidemiological examinations were carried out in 1985, 1991 and 1996 according to the WHO basic criteria, using the pathfinder methodology in children and adults. But nationwide oral data among 18-year-olds were never collected before 1998. The aim of the present paper is to give up-to-date information on the oral disease status and treatment needs in adolescents based on the recent pathfinder survey. A total of 710 persons were examined at 16 sample sites. The basic findings were: The prevalence of caries free adolescents was 6.1%. The mean DMFT score was 7.64. 66.5% of the examined probands had no tooth loss. The parodontal condition was poor. 84.7% of the sample had gingivitis and needed oral hygiene instruction and 61.7% of them had dental calculus as well. CONCLUSION: Our "health for all" efforts were not effective enough, therefore further considerable activities and financial support will be needed to achieve the appropriate goals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Evidence for dental caries decline among children in an East European country (Hungary).

In Central and Eastern Europe oral health systems are in transition due to the economic and political changes. The aim of the present study was to highlight the long-term trend in dental caries prevalence of Hungarian children. A WHO National Pathfinder Survey of oral health status was conducted in 1996 which included 6-year-olds (n = 900) and 12-year-olds (n = 900). Similar surveys were performed in 1985 (age 6-7, n = 895; age 12, n = 893) and in 1991 (age 5-6, n = 898; age 12, n = 898) and the surveys were based on the same sites and examination criteria. Clinical data were collected by trained dental examiners according to the WHO Basic Methods. In 1996, 73% of 5-6-year-olds and 84.5% of 12-year-olds were affected by dental caries. At age 5-6 the mean dmft was 4.5 and at age 12 the DMFT was 3.8. In both groups, the d/D-components were high (5-6 years: dt/dmft = 89%; 12 years: DT/DMFT = 45%). For children aged 5-6, the mean caries experience increased from 1991 (3.7 dmft) to 1996 (4.5 dmft) (P<0.01) whereas DMFT of 12-year-olds declined from 5.0 in 1985 and 4.3 in 1991 (P<0.01). The differences in caries experience by urbanization level were reduced over time. In 1996, 72% of 12-year-olds had gingival bleeding (CPI scores 1+2), and 23% had moderate/severe malocclusion. In conclusion, in order to meet the need for dental care in schoolchildren in Hungary health authorities are encouraged to revitalize the school dental services. Implementation of community-based health promotion is needed to control oral disease in Hungarian children.

Child↗
PubMed2000

Dental caries in schoolchildren of an Estonian and a Danish municipality.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to describe the prevalence rate and the severity of dental caries in Estonian schoolchildren aged 7 and 12 and to compare the findings with those of Danish children. DESIGN: Cross-sectional surveys in Estonia and Denmark, clinical oral examinations of children in 1997. SAMPLES AND METHODS: In Estonia, 195 children aged 7 and 215 children of age 12 were selected in the municipality of Tartu in schools identified for oral health promotion projects. In Denmark, the study included 637 7-year-olds and 642 12-year-olds living in the municipality of Horsens and served by the Public Dental Health Service for children. All children in the two countries were examined by calibrated dentists for dental caries according to the Recording System for the Danish Public Dental Health Service. RESULTS: At age 7, 83.8% of Estonian children had dental caries (7.7 dmfs) against 62.1% of Danish children (5.3 dmfs). At age 12, the mean caries experience was 2.1 DMFS in Estonia against 1.3 DMFS of the Danish children. Most of the caries indices were due to the high d/D components and approximal caries was prominent. In the study area in Estonia, the content of fluoride in drinking water was optimal (0.8-1.5 p.p.m.) whereas the level of fluoride was low in the Danish municipality (0.2 p.p.m.). CONCLUSION: In the Baltic states, the oral health systems are in transition. For the continuous improvement of oral health in childrens' reorientation of services should consider implementation of community-based oral health promotion and the schools provide an excellent setting for preventive oral care.

Cariostatic Agents↗
PubMed2000

Oral health behavior and attitudes of adults in Lithuania.

In Lithuania, the oral health system is currently in transition and systematic data are needed for public oral health care planning. The objectives of this study were (i) to describe the self-assessment of oral health status in Lithuanian adults, the oral hygiene practices, and dental visiting habits; (ii) to assess the attitudes towards teeth and oral health, dental care and oral health services; (iii) to determine whether oral health attitudes and behavior are affected by socio-economic factors; and (iv) to analyse the association between self-care practices and use of oral health services. The study comprised random samples of 35-44-year-olds (n = 381) and 65-74-year-olds (n = 302). Data were collected during 1997 98 by means of self-administered questionnaires and the response rate was 53%. Nearly all persons of ages 35-44 had natural teeth, whereas 14% of 65-74-year-olds were edentulous. Among the dentate persons, 45% of the young adults against 36% of the elderly claimed having poor teeth, and 66% and 55%, respectively, had experience of pain from teeth or mouth during the past year. At ages 35-44, 33% of participants reported toothbrushing at least twice a day and this was the case for 21% of 65-74-year-olds. Dental visits within the past year were indicated by 60% of young adults and 43% of the elderly; 83% of all participants reported that their last visit to the dentist was due to acute oral symptoms. In general, the participants had positive dental knowledge and attitudes; however, 56% were unaware of any effect of fluoride. The bivariate analyses showed that perceived oral health status and oral self-care practices were related to use of dental services. The multivariate analyses of dental visiting habits revealed the effects of gender, urbanization, presence of natural teeth, experience of dental problems, attitudes to dental care and dentists, and education. In conclusion, preventive dental services should be introduced and the establishment of community-based oral health promotion programs is urgently needed for Lithuania.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Oral health services in PR China as evaluated by dentists and patients.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the function of oral health services and the delivery of oral health care in PR China. DESIGN: Cross-sectional surveys. Self-administered questionnaires gathered information on professional practices and attitudes of Chinese dentists. Patients were examined clinically for caries and services rendered. Patients were interviewed about oral health status, reason of dental visits and consumption of services, perceived need for care and self-care practices. SETTING: Wuhan City of the Hubei Province of China. SUBJECTS: Random samples of dentists (n = 250) working with child and adult patients in 1998 in Wuhan City. Each dentist had a representative sample of 20 patients attending consecutively for care enrolled in the study. RESULTS: On average, the dentists saw 12 patients per day, with most time devoted to restorative treatment and extraction. The majority of dentists held the opinion that in China little attention is given to preventive care. Forty per cent of the patients were new to the dentists and more than half attended care because of pain or acute symptoms. The reported mean number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth varied from 2.6 for 12-year-old patients to 10.7 for patients aged 65-74. Daily toothbrushing was practised by more than 90% of the patients in all age groups, however, the tradition of regular dental visits was weak. Most patients (51-75 per cent) attended for care due to acute problems or pain. CONCLUSION: The study indicated the need for reorientation of the Chinese oral health services towards prevention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Oral health status of children and adults in the Republic of Niger, Africa.

The present study was undertaken in order to describe the oral health status of children and adults in the Republic of Niger and to provide baseline data for the organisation and evaluation of systematic oral health promotion programmes in the country. The WHO pathfinder sampling procedures were applied to obtain representative samples of the following age groups: 6 years (n = 373); 12 years (n = 400); 18 years (n = 300) and 35-44 years (n = 400). Data were collected in 1997 according to the WHO methods, including information on dental caries and CPITN. In 6-year-olds, 56 per cent had caries and a mean score of 1.3 DMFT was observed among the 12-year-olds; the 35-44-year-olds had an average score of 5.7 DMFT. Differences in dental caries prevalence were found according to sex, province and urbanisation. Ninety-nine per cent of individuals at age 18, and 87 per cent at age 35-44 had maximum CPITN score 2 (calculus). Where 6- and 35-44-year-olds are concerned, the data may indicate increasing levels of dental caries. The implementation of primary prevention and community-based oral health education is therefore a matter of urgency.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Oral health behaviour of 12-year-old children in Kuwait.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were: (1) to describe the pattern of oral health behaviour of 12-year-old children in Kuwait, (2) to analyse this in relation to parental education, dental visiting habits and location, and (3) to establish a baseline for planning and evaluation of an oral health care programme for secondary schoolchildren. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, interviews with children in 1995. SAMPLE AND METHODS: The sample included 500 12-year-old schoolchildren (250 boys and 250 girls) selected from schools in Kuwait. All the children agreed to take part. Interviews with the children were carried out in the schools by four trained and calibrated Arabic speaking interviewers. RESULTS: During the previous 12 months, 28% of the children had experienced oral health problems--toothache (10%), or had felt discomfort (18%) either often or occassionally. The children reported that they needed oral hygiene instruction (71%), fillings (32%) and tooth extraction (23%). For 53% of the children the reason for the most recent visit to a dentist was pain or problems with teeth or gums. At their last dental visit 26% of the children had undergone a tooth extraction. The consumption of sugary foods and drinks was extremely high. Children who had visited a dentist within the last 12 months and children whose parents had higher education levels more often claimed frequent toothbrushing than those with no previous dental visiting experience and those whose parents had a low level of education. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health education and oral health care programmes should be established in secondary schools in Kuwait to influence the oral health behaviour of the children and to avoid further deterioration in their oral health.

Child↗
PubMed1999

Preventive oral health care and health promotion provided for children and adolescents by the Municipal Dental Health Service in Denmark.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the current organization of health promoting and preventive activities within the Danish Municipal Dental Health Service and to assess how the service has chosen to comply with the directives as formulated by the National Board of Health. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey of the municipal dental health services was carried out on a national scale. Postal questionnaires were used to collect information on active and passive preventive care activities and community-orientated health promotion. SETTING: The survey was conducted to aid the reorientation and adjustment of the Municipal Dental Health Services in Denmark. SUBJECTS: All municipal dental health services in Denmark were considered relevant for the survey and 141 services (71%) responded to the questionnaire. OUTCOME MEASURES: Quantitative methods were used to measure recall-intervals for children and adolescents, passive and active prevention, identification of and care for individuals at risk, and health education. Qualitative methods were applied to record the organization of community health activities. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The majority of dental services stated that preschool children are called at regular intervals (every 3, 6 or 8 months); school-children and adolescents are most often recalled according to individual needs. Chairside assistants, dentists or dental hygienists give oral hygiene instructions systematically to children of grades 0 through to 3. Fluoride is frequently administered through topical application by dentists; fluoride tables are not used. Permanent molars are sealed when this is indicated. Clinical and socio-behavioural criteria are used to identify children at risk. Half of the services reported school-based health education, and in one-quarter of the municipalities community health activities took place. Adjustment of the services should consider population-directed activities and greater use of ancillary personnel.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Caries-preventive methods used for children and adolescents in Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden have all had a similar decline in dental caries during the last 20 years, although the decline has come later in Iceland. The purpose of this study was to compare the caries-preventive methods used for children and adolescents in these four countries. Questionnaires were sent to random samples of dentists, dental hygienists, and dental nurses working with children during 1995 and 1996. The results showed that the use of preventive methods was generally consistent between the countries. Nevertheless there were differences between the countries concerning the choice of preventive strategy for risk patients and also in how prevention was implemented. Danish dental care providers chose oral hygiene education as the priority, which they put into practice. Apart from fluoride varnish for some patients, most of them did not use or recommend fluoride except fluoride toothpaste. The Norwegian and Icelandic dental care providers chose both oral hygiene education and the use of fluoride as priorities, while most Swedish dental care providers preferred to provide dietary advice and oral hygiene education, and additional fluoride for risk patients. The differences could not be explained by other variables than nationality, implying that there are differences between the dental cultures in the four countries. The informational basis of decisions on preventive strategies varied between the different dental professionals in each country as well as between the countries, indicating that national professional cultures are being shaped differently. Despite the differences in choice of preventive methods, the dental health of children varies little across the frontiers. This raises the question of the significance of the choice of preventive methods to the decline of dental caries and points towards an urgent need to develop evidence-based preventive strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Carbamide-containing polyol chewing gum and prevention of dental caries in schoolchildren in Madagascar.

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effect on dental caries experience of using carbamide polyol chewing gum as a supplement to standard oral hygiene procedures for schoolchildren in a developing country (Madagascar). In 1994, grades 1 and 4 children of demonstration schools were allocated to experimental and control groups; all children participated in a school-based oral health education programme, including daily toothbrushing supervised by the classroom teacher. At grade 1, the test group (n = 125) also used chewing gum (V6: 55.5 per cent sorbitol, 4.3 per cent xylitol, 2 per cent carbamide) three times a day. At grade 4, one test group (n = 177) had chewing gum three times a day and an additional test group (n = 74) had chewing gum five times a day. The control groups included 117 children at grade 1 and 209 at grade 4. Dental caries was registered in 1994 and 1997 according to the Recording System for the Danish Child Dental Services. In grade 1 children, the preventive effect of the total DMFS was not statistically significant except for occlusal caries (-0.65 DMFS, P < 0.01). In the grade 4 test groups, non-significant reductions of dental caries experience were found when compared with controls. The present community trial indicates that the use of polyol chewing gum may be considered a supplement to the control of occlusal dental caries in young primary schoolchildren, particularly in developing countries with limited resources for dental care.

Ampholyte Mixtures↗
PubMed1998

Caries preventive services for children and adolescents in Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden: strategies and resource allocation.

According to the dental acts of Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, emphasis is placed on preventive dental care. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare two aspects of the caries preventive services: the strategies and the resource allocation for preventive dental care of children and adolescents in Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Questionnaires were sent to samples of dentists and other dental personnel who provided preventive care to children during 1995 and 1996. Comparisons between the countries showed significant differences in recall routines and in implementation of risk-based and population-based preventive strategies. Multivariate analyses showed that the time used for preventive care varied by country and was not associated with the DMFT of the children. More time was allocated for prevention when more operating dental auxiliaries were available at the clinic, when the recall interval was shorter, when the time used for routine examination was longer and when the clinician was an auxiliary rather than a dentist. In conclusion, resource allocation and strategies used for prevention were not consistent between the countries.

Adolescent↗