Abstract
Child dental caries (i.e., cavities) are a major preventable health problem in most high-income countries. The aim of this study was to compare the extent of inequalities in child dental caries across four high-income countries alongside their child oral health policies. Coordinated analyses of data were conducted across four prospective population-based birth cohorts (Australia, n = 4085, born 2004; Québec, Canada, n = 1253, born 1997; Rotterdam, the Netherlands, n = 6690, born 2002; Southeast Sweden, n = 7445, born 1997), which enabled a high degree of harmonization. Risk ratios (adjusted) and slope indexes of inequality were estimated to quantify social gradients in child dental caries according to maternal education and household income. Children in the least advantaged quintile for income were at greater risk of caries, compared to the most advantaged quintile: Australia: AdjRR = 1.18, 95%CI = 1.04–1.34; Québec: AdjRR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.36–2.10; Rotterdam: AdjRR = 1.67, 95%CI = 1.36–2.04; Southeast Sweden: AdjRR = 1.37, 95%CI = 1.10–1.71). There was a higher risk of caries for children of mothers with the lowest level of education, compared to the highest: Australia: AdjRR = 1.18, 95%CI = 1.01–1.38; Southeast Sweden: AdjRR = 2.31, 95%CI = 1.81–2.96; Rotterdam: AdjRR = 1.98, 95%CI = 1.71–2.30; Québec: AdjRR = 1.16, 95%CI = 0.98–1.37. The extent of inequalities varied in line with jurisdictional policies for provision of child oral health services and preventive public health measures. Clear gradients of social inequalities in child dental caries are evident in high-income countries. Policy related mechanisms may contribute to the differences in the extent of these inequalities. Lesser gradients in settings with combinations of universal dental coverage and/or fluoridation suggest these provisions may ameliorate inequalities through additional benefits for socio-economically disadvantaged groups of children.
Funder
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Department of Social Services, Australian Government
Australian Institute of Family Studies
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Erasmus Universitair Medisch Centrum Rotterdam
Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
ZonMw
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Ministerie van Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport
Institut Statistiques Quebec
Fondation Lucie et André Chagnon
Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur
Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux
Ministère de la Famille du Québec
GRIP Research Unit on Children’s Psychosocial Maladjustment
QUALITY Cohort Collaborative Group
Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine
Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail
l’Institut de recherche en santé publique de l’Université de Montréal
Université du Québec à Montréal
Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Société et Culture
Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Santé
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
Alla Barn i Sydöstra Sverige
Östergötland County Council
Vetenskapsrådet
Barndiabetesfonden
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada
Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse
Forskningsrådet i Sydöstra Sverige
Forskningsrådet för Arbetsliv och Socialvetenskap
Länsförsäkringar Östgöta
National Health and Medical Research Council
State Government of Victoria
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)