Oral conditions in Australian children of Aboriginal and Caucasian descent.

Oral health parameters were examined for 211 schoolchildren (128 Aborigines and 83 Caucasians) representative of the 6--8 and 10--11 year age groups in the Brewarrina and Walgett areas of western New South Wales (fluoride in water less than or equal to 0.02-0.26 parts/10(6)). Despite similar dietary carbohydrate challenge and tooth eruption patterns, Aboriginal children, most of whom were members of a transitional community within a low socioeconomic stratum, had higher prevalence of caries (DIMFT) and severity rating of carious lesions (SR), poorer oral hygiene (OHI) and more gingivitis (PI) than Caucasian children, in both age groups. Tooth defects were more frequent (2.5 times) and severe in Aborigines than in Caucasians. Outstanding treatment needs were very high in both ethnic groups, but more so in Aborigines.