Dental health, dental health knowledge and behaviour in 14-year-old children of Finnish immigrant families in the north of Sweden.

In this study, dental health in a group of Finnish teenagers from immigrant families is compared to that in a group of matched Swedish teenagers. Knowledge of dental disease and dental health behaviour is also compared. Seventy-seven Finnish and 85 Swedish 14-year-olds were examined for caries, gingivitis, calculus and presence of gingival pockets. They were interviewed about toothbrushing habits, use of fluorides and knowledge regarding dental health. A food habit history was taken. Data were collected concerning individual prophylaxis in the last 36 months. It was also noted whether or not the child met the selection criteria for inclusion in such a programme. The average D1FS (approximal initial lesions included) was 17.4 for the Finnish and 13.8 for the Swedish teenagers. The mean GBI% was 8.5 and 7.0 respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in toothbrushing or flossing frequency or use of fluorides. Between-meal eating of sucrose-containing products was more frequent in the Finnish group. Knowledge about gingivitis was equally good in the two groups, but knowledge about the etiology of dental caries was less good in the Finnish group. Although the Finnish teenagers had received almost twice as many hours of individual prophylaxis as the Swedish, 64% and 76% respectively of those fulfilling the selection criteria had not been offered this kind of pRophylaxis. For about 2/3 of the children in each group the individual prophylaxis given was considered adequate.