An epidemiologic study of the oral health status of high school students in New Jersey.

M. Houpt, S. Koenigsberg, R. G. Rosivack, E. W. Baker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study was performed in order to record the prevalence of tooth decay in high school students in New Jersey. During the Spring of 1986, 3,556 students, aged 13 to 18 years, in 8 public high schools in 7 communities, participated in the study. The subjects were examined by 3 trained examiners with mirror, explorer, air syringe and overhead auxiliary light. A lesion was recorded as dental caries if there was a perceptible break in the enamel surface. Questionable incipient areas were not recorded as carious lesions. Mean DMFT was found to be 4.17 +/- 3.7 and mean DMFS was 7.02 +/- 7.4. Hispanic subjects had more decay (DMFT 4.98, DMFS 9.03) than black subjects (DMFT 4.13, DMFS 6.94) and white subjects (DMFT 3.53, DMFS 5.43). Females had more decay (DMFT 4.51, DMFS 7.67) than males (DMFT 3.79, DMFS 6.33). Hispanic and black subjects also had more untreated decay (24 and 22 percent decayed of the DMFT) compared with only 11% untreated decay in white subjects. Socioeconomic level was inversely related to caries activity; however, geographic location of the school within the state (north versus south) was not a factor.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)41-46
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the New Jersey Dental Association
Volume60
Issue number2
StatePublished - Mar 1989

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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