Caries in Adolescents (Karies Hos Ungdom)

Summary

In this study the objective is to establish in depth knowledge about adolescents' oral health characteristics, - practices and - needs. Further, we want to evaluate whether adolescents' caries status can be associated with existing socio-economic inequality, emotional health and lifestyle factors.

The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are:

1. What is the caries status (i.e. prevalence, increment at different timepoints and characteristics) among adolescents in Trøndelag?

* What is the caries prevalence in different age groups?
* Is there any difference in caries prevalence linked to specific age groups, gender or urban versus rural areas?
* Are approximal tooth surfaces especially prone to the development of new caries lesions?
* Is the caries increment from 12 to 20 years a continuous process or are there high-risk periods within this timespan?
* How is the prevalence of enamel caries? Is enamel caries more prevalent in younger age groups than in older age groups?
2. What are the patterns of recall intervals and non-attendance in different age groups, among adolescents in Trøndelag?

* What are the attendance rates and prevalence of non-attendance at dental appointments in different age groups?
* What is the recall interval between regular follow-up dental visits?
* Are there any recall or attendance characteristics linked to age group, gender or urban versus rural areas?
3. What factors (i.e. oral health behaviours, socioeconomic-, lifestyle- and parental factors) are associated with caries among Norwegian adolescents?

* How are the oral health behaviours (i.e. dietary- and oral hygiene habits, attendance to dental care) among adolescents, and are there any shared oral health behavioural challenges?
* Is the caries prevalence linked to life challenges (mental illness, alcohol/drug use and chronic diseases)?
* To what degree are oral health behaviours associated with caries among adolescents?
* Is there any association between media screen time and oral health behaviours, and cariesstatus?
* Is there any association between physical activity, sport participation and oral health behaviours, and caries status?
* What are the associations between socioeconomic factors (study program, birth- and migration background, and parental income, education and employment) and oral health behaviours, and caries status?

For research question 1 and 2, the sample will be adolescents aged 12-20 years living in Trøndelag county in the time period 2008-2020, (n≈115000, Statistics Norway, SSB). Data will be extracted from dental health records in the public dental service (Den offentlige tannhelsetjenesten, Trøndelag Fylkeskommune).

The public dental service annually reports caries prevalence for 12- and 18-year-olds, Statistics Norway, SSB (Figure 1). However, the knowledge is modest about the caries development within the six years from 12 to 18 years of age. Further, the public dental service offers subsidised dental care to 19- and 20-year-olds. Extracting data from dental health records in the public dental service will give us the opportunity to explore the caries increment at multiple timepoints, and attendance rates at dental appointments throughout the teenage period from 12 to 20 years of age.

For research question 3, the sample will be adolescents (n≈8000) and their parents that participated in the fourth survey of The Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4) in 2017-2019. Self-reported questionnaire data will be linked to data from dental health records in the public dental service.

Conditions

• Caries,Dental

Interventions

OTHER

Study characteristics of adolescents affected by dental caries

Study and compare data from The Trøndelag Health Study (The HUNT Study) and data from Public dental service records in Trøndelag collected 2008-2020 to look for Characteristics of adolescents affected by dental caries and trends in caries experience among adolescents (12-20 yo).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Norwegian University of Science and Technology

  collaborator OTHER

• SINTEF Health Research

  collaborator OTHER

• Trøndelag Fylkeskommune

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Sheffield

  collaborator OTHER

• Karolinska Institutet

  collaborator OTHER

• Ablemagic AS

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Orkla Care AB

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• UiT The Arctic University of Norway

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Bergen

  collaborator OTHER

• Forandringsfabrikken

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Kompetansesenteret Tannhelse Midt (TkMidt)

  lead OTHER

Eligibility

Min Age

12 Years

Max Age

20 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2008-01-01

Primary Completion

2020-12-31

Completion

2025-05-27

Countries

• Norway

Study Locations