Dental caries experience in a young adult military population

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate a group of young Australian adults to determine their caries experience and compare these current levels with similar aged cohorts over the past 30 years. Caries experience was also related to lifetime exposure of fluoridated water consumption. METHODS: This was achieved through a cross-sectional study involving Australian Army recruits seen for their initial dental examination at 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Kapooka. A total of 499 recruits had a clinical examination with the aid of bitewing radiographs and an orthopantogram. Sociodemographic and fluoride history data were elicited via a questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean DMFT scores for age cohorts were: 17-20 years of age--DMFT 3.59; 21-25 years of age--DMFT 4.63; 26-30 years of age--DMFT 7.07; 31-35 years of age--DMFT 9.04. Subjects with a lifetime exposure to fluoridated water had significantly lower dental caries experience (DMFT 3.80) than subjects with no exposure to fluoridated water (DMFT 5.15). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that there has been a decline in the level of caries experience in young Australian adults when the data from this study were compared to other ad hoc studies.