[Children stomatology outpatient treatment requirements analysis and countermeasures].

OBJECTIVE: To assess dental treatment needs and oral health status among children under 18-year-old in Beijing and to examine how these are affected by age, gender.

METHODS: In the retrospective study, 3 148 children aged 0.8-18.0 years were selected from patients who first visit the Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, from May 2010 to January 2011. The treatment needs were evaluated and analysed.

RESULTS: Mean age of the group was 6.23 ± 3.46, median was 5.0, and 52.4% (1 649/3 148) were boys. The percentages of treatment need for caries, pulptis and periapical periodontitis, teeth developmental abnormality, dental injury space management, periodontal disease, non carious disease and others were 35.1%(1 105/3 148), 32.2%(1 013/3 148), 11.5% (363/3 148) and 6.7%(212/3 148), 2.0%(62/3 148), 1.3%(41/3 148), 0.1% (2/3 148) and 2.2%(69/3 148) respectively. 3.6% (112/3 148) children suffered toothache and need an emergency dental treatment. In 1 602 children under 6-year-old, 55.2% (884/1 602) were diagnosed as severe early childhood caries. Only 8.9% (281/3 148) children were found to need no treatment, who just asked a regular dental examine.

CONCLUSION: Systematic implementation of preventive oral care and community-oriented health programmers for children, especially preschool-aged children, are urgently needed in China.