| 3.1
Present Targets |
3.1.1 The
1991 policy statement "Health Education in
Scotland" set the following national targets for the
year 2000:
- that 60% of 5 year
old school entrants should have no cavities,
fillings or extractions
- that less than 10% of
45-54 year olds should be without their own
teeth.
|
| 3.1.2 The
latest available information shows that in 1993/94 the
proportion of 5 year olds without any decay was 38% so
there remains some considerable way to go to reach the
target of 60% by the year 2000 |
| .3.1.3 In
the 45-54 year age group, the 1988 Office of Population
Census and Surveys (OPCS) Adult Dental Health Survey
showed that 33% of this group were without their own
teeth. By 1993, the Scottish Adult Dental Health Survey
showed that only 15% of this group were without their own
teeth. This suggests that the target for this group for
the year 2000 appears to be achievable, particularly when
it is considered that the 1993 percentage of those
without their own teeth in the 35-44 year age group was
5.5.%. |
| |
| 3.2
Monitoring the National Targets |
| 3.2.1 There
are a number of surveys which allow us to monitor dental
health in Scotland and which will enable both the
existing national targets in section 3.1, and the new
progress objectives outlined at 3.3, to be monitored on a
continuing basis. These are briefly outlined below. |
| 3.2.2 The
Scottish Health Boards' Dental Epidemiological Programme
(SHBDEP) measures the dental health of children by means
of surveys conducted every year. This programme commenced
in 1987. Five year olds are surveyed every 2 years and
other age groups in the alternate years. Five year olds
were surveyed in 1987/88, 1989/90, 1991/92 and 1993/94.
Twelve year olds were surveyed in 1988/89 and 1992/93
whilst 14 year olds were covered in 1990/91. The surveys
are undertaken in partnership with the Dental Health
Services Research Unit (DHSRU, University of Dundee)
which publishes the results in annual reports. These
surveys are important and are the main means of
monitoring the national target. |
| 3.2.3
Children's dental health is also surveyed by the Office
of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS) on a UK-wide
basis every 10 years. The first OPCS survey to include
Scottish children was conducted in 1983. The second one
was conducted in 1993 and results are now available. The
next OPCS children's survey will be in 2003. |
| 3.2.4 SHBDEP
carried out a postal survey of adult dental health in
Scotland during 1993. It is proposed to hold further such
surveys in 1996 and 2000. |
| 3.2.5 OPCS
surveys adult dental health on a 10 year basis,
alternating with their surveys of children's dental
health. The last one was held in 1988 and another is due
in 1998. |
| 3.2.6 The
Scottish Health Survey started in March 1995. It will
first report in 1997 and triennally thereafter. Its first
phase is designed primarily to measure cardiovascular
risk factors and lifestyles in the Scottish population,
but some questions about dental health are included.
These will be used to provide a baseline for measuring
the usage of fluoride toothpastes (in addition to data
provided by toothpaste manufacturers) and the proportion
of the population undertaking regular dental check-ups,
as a further means of monitoring changes in behaviour in
the population. The dental health questions will be
repeated in subsequent phases of the survey. |
| 3.2.7 Health
boards undertake a wide range of health promotion
activities within the framework of their local health
strategies and have set local targets for many of the
national health priorities, including dental health.
Boards are urged to set further local targets for the
wider range of objectives set out below where it is
possible to monitor these at the local level. Boards
should also work closely in alliances for health with
schools whose co-operation in the conduct of dental
surveys is most valuable. |
| |
| 3.3
New Objectives |
| 3.3.1 The
1991 target on two age groups reflected our state of
knowledge and emerging priorities at that time for a
national health strategy. That strategy seeks to foster a
healthy lifestyle within the population and a
multi-faceted approach to its achievement. It thus spans
all age groups and its progress is being monitored
through a wide range of measures, including lifestyle
changes. Measurement is also taking place within age
groups to ascertain whether the younger age groups in
particular are adopting a healthier lifestyle. To reflect
the tracking which is taking place and the wide age gap
between the present target groups, it is proposed to
extend the targets, in line with World Health
Organisation goals, to incorporate the following
objectives which will be used to assess progress. |
- children aged 12
should have on average no more than 1.5 teeth
decayed, missing or filled (DMFT) by the year
2005 (the 1993 level is 2.18 DMFT).
- 90% of 18 year olds
should have all of their own teeth (excluding
wisdom teeth and extractions for orthodontic
reasons) by the year 2008 (figures for this age
group are not currently available but 84% of 15
year olds in 1993 had all their own teeth).
- at least 80% of
dentate adults aged 35-44 should have at least 21
or more standing teeth by the year 2008 (in 1988,
75% of dentate adults had 21 or more standing
teeth).
|
