Dental caries prevalence and treatment needs of 5- to 12-year-old children in relation to area-based income and immigrant background in Greece

Objectives: To investigate the association between certain socio-demographic characteristics and dental health status of 5- to 12-year-old children attending public kindergarten and primary schools in Piraeus, Greece. Methods: Gender, age, place of residence, immigrant background and area-based income were associated with dental caries prevalence, treatment needs and oral hygiene level in 5,116 children. Results: The mean number of decayed, missing and filled deciduous teeth (dmft) and Unmet Restorative Treatment Needs Index (UTN) at 6-year-olds were 1.54 and 84.6% respectively, and the DMFT and UTN at 12-year-olds were 1.35 and 71.8%. Caries experience/severity significantly increased with age, whereas treatment needs and oral hygiene level decreased (P