Caries prevalence, oral health behavior, and attitudes in children residing in radiation-contaminated and -noncontaminated towns in Ukraine

Introduction: Several studies investigating the oral health status of children living in Ukraine after the Chernobyl catastrophe revealed an increase of caries in children residing in radionucleotide-contaminated areas. Purpose: (1) To compare prevalence of dental caries in contaminated and noncontaminated towns; and (2) to determine if there is a difference between dental behaviors and attitudes of children residing in contaminated and noncontaminated areas that may have contributed to differences in caries prevalence. Methods: Children aged 13-14 were randomly selected in two towns of approximately the same population size (33 000): Ovruch (n = 119) from a contaminated area and Mirgorod (n = 100) from a noncontaminated area. Data on behaviors and attitudes were collected via a self-administered questionnaire having six domains: (i) family background; (ii) dental anxiety; (iii) dental utilization; (iv) oral hygiene; (v) use of fluoride toothpaste; and (vi) sugar consumption. Oral examinations included information on carious lesions, restorations, missing teeth, and soft tissue abnormalities. Caries prevalence was compared using a t-test. Regression analysis was conducted to determine the independent contribution of oral hygiene behaviors and dental utilization. Results: There was a significant difference in caries prevalence in the contaminated town (mean DMFT = 9.1 +/- 3.5) versus the noncontaminated town (mean DMFT = 5.7 +/- 1.4; P < 0.000). Oral hygiene practices, age, and utilization of dental services were not found to be associated with differences in DMFT score between the two communities. Conclusion: There was a significantly higher caries prevalence in a radiation-contaminated town compared to a noncontaminated town of Ukraine. The difference was not explained by differences in oral health knowledge, attitudes or behaviors.