The life-course approach and dental health of pre-adolescents and these exposures are likely to accumulate over The aim of our study was to assess the the life-span of the individual.3 association of dental caries experience with In the life-course approach, major health- and behavioural capital among Turkish determinants of current and future health are and Finnish pre-adolescents with differing family- health- and behavioural capital, which are related characteristics. inherited and acquired during the early stages of life. These two types of capital develop through MAtERIALS ANd MEtHodS childhood into adolescence under the impact of In spring 2004, a cross-sectional study of family-related characteristics.4 Body height and Finnish and Turkish pre-adolescents, 10- to 12- weight are commonly used indicators of health year-olds, was undertaken with questionnaires capital.4 Nicolau et al5 has shown that adolescents and oral health examinations in Munkkiniemi, with high rates of caries were more likely to be (a suburb of Helsinki) (n=338) and Kadikoy (a shorter in height, to be in a lower income group, managerial district of Istanbul) (n=611). In Turkey, and to have high levels of parental punishment. two schools were selected by cluster sampling Likewise, babies with low birth weight and a from high and low socio-economic suburbs to poor socio-economic condition had high levels represent the general profile of that district. In of caries at adolescence.6 Furthermore, children Finland, two primary schools were randomly at an increased risk for obesity (increased body chosen to represent the pre-adolescents living weight relative to body height) are more likely to in Helsinki. The sample selection is described have caries and to be from families in low socio- elsewhere.19 economic groups.7 Self-administered health behaviour Behavioural capital, a psychological resource, questionnaires meant for these pre-adolescents refers to the accumulation of social and cognitive and their mothers were revised after testing in a skills such as self-esteem, self-efficacy, and coping pilot study in 2003 on a sample of fourth-grade strategies.4 These skills, interrelated with family- elementary school pre-adolescents (n=63) in related characteristics, are among the important Istanbul.10 risk and protective factors in chronic-disease The Turkish Ministry of Education, the local aetiology, especially for chronic diseases relevant administration authorities, and the school to adolescents’ eating disorders and poor dietary authorities in Turkey as well as the Ethics habits.8,9 There is some indication of an association Committee of Finland granted ethical clearance between high self-efficacy and low caries10 and and written permission to conduct the study. All between poor family-related characteristics and of the participating mothers and pre-adolescents high caries among pre-adolescents.11,12 However, provided written informed consent. assessment of the relation between individual’s Two native speakers translated the behavioural capital (e.g., self-esteem, self- questionnaires from English to Turkish and efficacy) and his/her caries and family-related Finnish to ensure accuracy compared with characteristics among children or adolescents the original forms in English. The oral health has been a neglected issue. behaviour questionnaires meant for the pre- The life-course approach is recommended adolescents were completed in classes, whereas for the prevention of obesity as well as of other those for mothers were taken home and returned chronic diseases by the World Health Organization from their homes by the pre-adolescents during (WHO).13 This approach is important among the following two weeks. school aged-children in attainment of a common The pre-adolescents’ number of decayed, preventive approach for general and dental well- missing, and filled permanent (DMFT) was being,14 because increased body weight relative measured by dental examinations in Turkey and to body height (overweight and obesity) are more Finland, based on WHO criteria.20 In Finland, likely to be common among adolescents with children under 18 years of age are entitled to higher caries,15,16 and with low self-efficacy beliefs comprehensive regular oral health care free and parental income,8 and with single mothers17 of charge, and their dental health records are and with low self-esteem.18 regularly collected by dentists in the municipal 154 European Journal of Dentistry