Dental Caries Trends in Africa

Objectives: To determine trends in published dental caries rates in Africa.

Methods: A systematic review of published information 1967-1997 was done on-line with the key words dental caries and the name of each of the 35 countries in sub-Saharan mainland Africa. For inclusion in the analysis WHO methods had to have been used for 5- to 6-, 11- to 13-, 14- to 15- and 35- to 44-year-old indigenous Africans.

Results: Of 327 papers published in the study period 69 were proper epidemiological studies and 45 fulfilled inclusion criteria. The groupings of caries prevalence and severity were evaluated. In two, significant declines in caries severity were seen for 5- to 6- and 35- to 44-year-olds. Of the remaining eight groupings there were non-significant decreases in five and increases in three.

Conclusions: The study showed a predominantly downward trend in dental caries which was statistically significant for DMFT at age 5 to 6 years and for DMFT at 35 to 44 years.