Geo-mapping of caries risk in children and adolescents - a novel approach for allocation of preventive care

In spite of the global decline in childhood caries, widening inequalities in oral health exist between social classes and certain minority ethnic groups [1, 2]. In the United Kingdom, this has primarily been observed among preschool- and schoolchildren [3, 4]. Also in Scandinavia, where almost all children and adolescents attend the prevention-oriented free public dental service, a social gradient for dental health is evident [5‐7]. In order to reduce these gaps, various oral health promotion activities has been suggested and, preferable, integrated with general health education since oral diseases and chronic systemic diseases share many common risk factors [8, 9]. The challenge and crucial decision for policymakers and professionals are to allocate resources and establish evidence-based programs that meet the needs of the vulnerable children at risk for caries. The allocation is traditionally based on conventional caries epidemiological data in spite of the fact that the children by then already are diseased. Oral health programs based on caries risk would be more proactive since a comprehensive risk assessment is an essential component in the decision-making process for the prevention and management of dental caries [10]. Thus, the aims of the present communication were to suggest a novel approach to present epidemiological data based on caries risk in a population. We launch the use of geo-maps and apply the concept in the southwest Swedish region of Halland.

The proportion of children with no obvious decay at various ages and the cumulative burden of caries in the region, expressed as mean dmfs/DMFS, are shown in Table 1. The geo-maps of caries risk for preschool children, schoolchildren and adolescents are presented in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The geographical variation in caries risk was obvious. Among the preschool children, the smoothed relative risk (SmRR) varied from 0.33 to 2.37 in different parishes. With increasing age, the contrasts seemed to diminish although the gross geographical risk pattern persisted also among the adolescents (SmRR range 0.75-1.20). As expected, the lowest caries risk (dark green) was seen for all ages in the northern area with the elevated natural fluoride content in water supply. The across-parish-correlation between the SmRRs and the proportions with post-secondary educational level among the residents was highly significant for preschool children (r_S = -0.59; p < 0.01), but not for schoolchildren (r_S = -0.21; p = 0.10) and adolescents (r_S = -0.12; p = 0.24).

It is generally recognized that GIS may play an essential role in helping public health organizations understand population health and make decisions [17]. The methods we applied have previously been utilized, e.g. within general medicine for risk mapping of common chronic diseases [18]. However, dental caries is also a common chronic disease and it is evident that severe caries in childhood affects the quality of life. It is also clear that the skew burden of the disease calls for allocation of resources and manpower for preventive activities among those with the highest need. To our knowledge, the GIS concept has not previously been used within dentistry in the present manner. We have noticed close similarities with geo-maps based on some other diseases and medical conditions with life-style and behavior-related determinants, which is interesting. Thus, by addressing the common risk factor approach (high-sugar diet, fats, smoking, alcohol, lack of control, etc), dental professionals will not only prevent dental diseases but will also contribute to preventing obesity, heart disease and diabetes [19]. The co-morbidity of the chronic dental and medical conditions is strong argument for the allocation of monetary and human resources according to the "directed vulnerable population strategy" (DVPS) that may be cost saving in the long perspective [20].

From an international perspective, it should be pointed out that the overall cumulative caries burden in the present study population was very low (Table 1) [21]. Although the social and fluoride gradients on caries risk were quite expected, the produced geo-maps certainly provided some interesting and useful information for oral health planners. Educational level was considered a valid, objective socioeconomic indicator in this study area; it is also a parish-level measure that has been stable during recent years. In general, the educational level is higher in the urban residential areas and lower in the rural areas. Within the urban areas (located along coastline in the west) the social gradient could be explained by other factors such as family income and proportion of immigrants. The social gradient could be elaborated more in detail. Additional data on contextual/geographic and individual variables that are related to the caries outcome could allow for more extensive multilevel modeling. Nevertheless, investigators should consider adjustments for contextual and individual predictors with caution, depending on their purpose being to disclose vulnerable groups or provide further insights regarding the underlying predictors. Indeed, a quick glance at the present geo-maps could assist in making policies for reducing dental caries in vulnerable groups. For example, in the centre of the low-risk high-fluoride Kungsbacka municipality in the northern part of the region, an urban parish (1,334 study persons) with a notably higher caries risk among pre- and schoolchildren was identified (Figures 2 and 3). Schools and nurseries are excellent arenas to promote a healthy lifestyle and self-care practices in children [19]. Therefore, a local school-based fluoride and healthy-habit activity could be implemented in such a parish; fluorides have been proven to be effective in controlling and preventing caries and are a vital component of all caries prevention programs [22‐24].

Another interesting example was the demonstrated age-related impact of the smoothed relative risk which may imply that a relatively larger proportion of the preventive efforts should be steered towards the youngest age groups. Among the preschoolers, the SmRRs captured the geographical risk pattern of early childhood caries. There are several documented examples of successful programs for infant feeding and early fluoride exposure that have reduced inequalities in oral health in preschool children in a cost effective way [25]. In the light of the examples given above, the suggested geo-maps may be an additional tool for allocation of necessary resources to dental practitioners to act as health advocates and monitor out-reach interventions performed by auxiliary staff. Among the adolescents, who have pronounced cumulative caries burden (Table 1), complementary measures to the SmRR (considering also mean dmfs/DMS) might be taken into account as well, in order to better capturing the geographical contrasts in caries burden.

In summary, geo-maps based on caries risk may provide a novel option to allocate resources and tailor supportive and preventive measures within regions with sections of the population with relatively high caries rates.