Study hopes to stop the rot in baby teeth
Judith Napier
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Children whose baby teeth show signs of rotting are to be studied as part of a major new project on tooth decay.
Dundee University's dental school has been commissioned by the NationalInstitute for Health Research to lead a team drawn also from Cardiff,Glasgow, Leeds, London, Newcastle and Sheffield in the 2.9minvestigation into treating tooth decay in children.
Working with three- to seven-year-olds who already have decayed teeth,the team will assess the benefits of treating baby teeth - by eitherfillings, biological 'sealing' treatments or preventive approaches suchas reducing sugar intake and better brushing.
The programme starts this autumn, and runs to 2015. It will focusspecifically on inner-city London, the north of England, Wales andScotland.
Children will attend participating dentists up to four times a year, andwill be asked their opinion of the different treatments. They will alsobe invited to rate pain on a special discomfort scale.
Dental decay is now one of the most common childhood diseases, with morethan 40 per cent of UK children experiencing decay in baby teeth by theage of five. Dental extractions remain the most common reason forchildren to receive an outpatient general anaesthetic.
Dr Gail Topping, of Dundee School of Dentistry, said, 'Treatment fordecay in baby teeth varies widely across the UK and there is, as yet, noconclusive evidence for the most effective approach to itsmanagement.
'This trial will enable a clear recommendation to be made on theimportant question of how decayed baby teeth should best be managed inprimary dental care.'
