The oral health status of refugee children in Iceland.

In recent years, global conflicts have caused a significant rise in displaced individuals, increasing the number of asylum seekers and refugees. Iceland is no exception.

Objective

To assess the dental hygiene practices, oral health status, and dental caries experience (dmft/DMFT) among children and adolescents, 0-18 years, seeking international protection in Iceland. The secondary purpose is to identify areas for improvement of preventive measures and dental care services among this demographic. Basic research design and participants: Review of dental examination charts of 189 children, 0-18 years, who attended the Faculty of Odontology, University of Iceland, between January 1, 2023, and April 1, 2024.

Results

Half (52.9%) the children had either never attended a previous dental appointment (39.7%) or not in the previous 2 years (13.2%). Dental pain was the main reason for previous visits (29.4%), with 43.1% reporting having experienced dental pain before. Most children (87.3%) brushed their teeth since the eruption of the first tooth, and 82.4% used fluoride toothpaste. Dental caries affected 61.4% of the children, and 20.6% had dental infections at the time of examination. The mean dmft for six-year-olds was 4.33, while for twelve-year-olds, mean DMFT was 2.55. The prevalence of gingivitis was 37.8%, dental erosion 12.3%, dental fluorosis 8.8%, and molar incisor hypomineralisation 12.3%.

Conclusions

The dental health of children seeking international protection in Iceland is poor compared to their peers in other Nordic countries and beyond. The findings highlight the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to dental healthcare for these children.