An assessment of dental caries prevalence among Gujurati, Pakistani and white Caucasian five-year-old children resident in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

A number of recent studies have reported higher levels of caries experience in the primary dentition of Asian when compared with white Caucasian children. However, in order to take account of the diversity of socio-cultural and religious backgrounds, an Asian 'sample' should be specified. The present study examined caries prevalence among three distinct groups of five-year-old children, Pakistani Muslim, Indian Gujurati Muslim and white Caucasian. All were resident in districts of urban deprivation in Dewsbury. Significantly more of the 200 white Caucasian children examined were found to be caries-free (50 per cent) compared with 35 per cent of the Pakistani (n = 242) and 31 per cent of the Indian group (n = 159). Extensive caries was seen far more frequently in the Asians. Only 5 per cent of the white Caucasian children had rampant caries (dmft less than/= 10), but 13 per cent of the Pakistani and 21 per cent of the Indian group were so affected. Mean caries prevalence values were also higher among the Asian children. There was little difference in the levels of disease between the two Asian groups, except for rampant caries, which was higher among Indian children. All groups had more teeth decayed than treated. However, the white Caucasian girls had the lowest mean values of caries experience and the highest proportion of f/m teeth, indicating the most favourable level of restorative care. There was extensive untreated disease in all the Asian groups. The findings show that improved prevention and treatment facilities are required for young children, especially those from these Asian communities. Health education programmes and treatment facilities must be culturally acceptable and accessible. Both developments could be co-ordinated by the community dental service, the treatment facility most frequently used by these Asian communities at present.