Prevalence of dental caries and enamel defects in Connecticut Head Start children.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dental caries and enamel defects in a sample of predominantly African American and Hispanic children from an inner city Head Start program located in Connecticut. METHODS A total of 517 children were examined for dental caries and enamel defects. Children's caries experience was described using the dmfs/t indices, and dental defects were described using a modified developmental defects of enamel index. RESULTS The mean dmfs was 3.0, and 38% of the children had caries. The prevalence of enamel defects was 49%. When analyzed by race/ethnicity no significant differences in dmfs scores or the prevalence of defects were observed. The majority of defects were located on anterior teeth, and the type of defect varied with the location. On the buccal surface of canines, hypoplasia accounted for 70% of the lesions. On maxillary anterior teeth, linear opacities accounted for 50% of the lesions. A positive association between enamel defects and caries was observed. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of caries and defects in these Head Start children was high, with most defects located on anterior teeth. Enamel defects were associated with an increased caries incidence.