132 zyxwvutsrqpo Journal of Public Health Dentistry The Prevalence and Patterns of Dental Caries in Labrador Inuit Youth zyxwv Mark P. Zammit, BDS, MSD zyxwvutsr Postdoctoral Fellow Department of Orthodontics Alma Torres, DDS Department of Pediatric Dentistry David C. Johnsen, DDS, MSD Professor and Chair Department of Pediatric Dentistry Mark G. Hans, DDS, MSD Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director Department of Orthodontics Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH Abstract zyxwvutsrq Objectives: zyxwvutsr Thisstudy was undertaken to examinethe prevalence of dental caries in Inuit (Eskimo) youth aged 5-22 years. Methods: Both tooth-oriented indices and child-oriented caries patterns were recorded in a field study conducted in 199 1 in Nain and Hopedale, Northern Labrador. Seventy-eightpercent zyxwvut (N=347) of all school- children in these two locations were examinedby a single examiner. Results: Threepercent of the population were caries free and 88 percent of those withcaries experience had untreated dental decay. The mean combined dmfl and DMFTper child for all ages was 6.85, while the mean combined dmfs and DMFS was 15.72. About 38 percent of subjects had pit and fissure caries; 2 percent had hypoplasticlesions; 4 percent had faciolingualcaries; 3 1 percent had molar-approximalcaries and 22 percent had faciolingual and molar-approximal caries, the most de- structive cariespattern. About 68percentof the 5-6-year- olds and 26 percent of the 15-22-year-olds experienced the most destructive pattern of decay in their primary and permanent dentitions, respectively. Conclusions: Pre- ventive measures should start well before the age of 5 years. Describing caries patterns according to the denti- tion type complemented the traditional indices. Key Words: dental caries, indices, patterns of dental caries, Inuit. Send correspondence and reprint requests to Mr. Zammit, 14 Norris Place, zyxwvutsrqp Apt.#lOl,St.Catharines,Ontario,L2RZW8, Canada.Manuscript received: 12/10/92;returned toauthors for revision:4/12/93;accepted for publication: 7/6/93. The severe caries experiencein the Inuit has prompted this research in an attempt to understand the prevalence and characteristics of canes progression in this popula- tion (1-3). Most often, dental canes is measured using the average canes experience of a population-that is, indi- ces resulting from counts of decayed, missing, and filled teeth, or surfaces of teeth (dmft, dmfs, DMFT, and DMFS). However, these indices have limitations (4). Many studies continue to report prevalences of dental caries with such indices alone (5-9). Other studies have explored the use of child-oriented caries measures as a supplement to the traditional tooth-oriented measures, so that the prevalence of specificpatternsbased on caries experiences can be determined (4,10,11). These pat- terns-such as the incidence of dental canes in pits and fissures, caries secondary to hypoplasticenamel, smooth surfacecaries, rampant caries, and nursingbottle caries- can be used to plan appropriate public health measures according to the risk potential of the individual. Dental canes is an infectious and transmissible disease; thus, its prevention should be appropriately directed (12). Epide- miologicstudiesshowthat caneshas declined in children in many industrialized countries (13), but is still a prob- lemin theadult (14).Therealso hasbeen arelativechange in patterns of disease, with fewer smooth surface and more pit and fissurecaries. Longitudinal canes risk stud- iesarereportingan associationbetween canesexperience in the primary and permanent dentitions of the same individual (15-17). Skullsof the Inuit population indicate a low prevalence or absence of dental canes and a high degree of occlusal wear before European contact (18-21). The prevalence of J Public Health Dent 1994;54(3):132-8