Oral health: children - inequalities data

Click on the chart(s) below to view a full-sized detailed version in a new window

The overall trends in caries experience mask a polarisation of the caries problem in Scotland.

There is a close correlation between caries levels and Carstairs deprivation category (Depcat) (Sweeney et al, 1999). Chart 1 shows the dental caries burden increasing (ie a lower percentage of children caries-free) with increasing deprivation. The Scottish target for 2010 of 60% of 5-year-old children with no obvious decay is going to be hard to reach in children from deprived communities. Moreover, when comparing children in Scotland with children from the same socio-economic background in the rest of the UK, dental caries is more prevalent in those from Scotland (NDIP, 2003). 

The NDIP surveys indicate that between 2004 and 2006, dental health improved in all Depcats apart from Depcat 7 (most deprived). Therefore this did not translate into a reduction in health inequalities.

Please note: the dental health data are not currently available linked to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD).