Abstract
Dental caries is one of the most common infectious diseases affecting 6–8-year-old children, especially their first permanent molars (FPMs). This study explored the prevalence of dental caries on FPMs by analyzing the oral health status of 1,423,720 children aged 6–8 years in Zhejiang Province, China. The data were extracted from the dental electronic records of the schoolchildren attending the Oral Health Promotion Project (OHPP), conducted during 2013–2017 in Zhejiang Province. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine the factors affecting dental caries. Boys and girls accounted for 53.2% and 46.8% of the subjects, respectively. From 2013 to 2017, the prevalence of dental caries on FPMs increased: 2013: 20.4%; 2014: 25.3%; 2015: 24.5%; 2016: 27.0%; and 2017: 29.0%, despite the OHPP conducted. Based on multiple logistic regression model, girls had a significantly higher risk of FPM caries compared to boys (OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.37–1.39, p < 0.0001); compared with the caries rates in urban areas, the caries risk was significantly higher in rural areas (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.14–1.16, p < 0.0001). In terms of geographic location in Zhejiang Province, the odds ratios of the caries risk of the east, south, west, and north were 1.35 (1.33–1.36), 1.3 (1.28–1.31), 0.81 (0.8–0.83), and 0.82 (0.81–0.84), respectively (p < 0.0001), by considering the central region as a reference. The caries prevalence of FPMs was high, with an increasing tendency and gender, social, cultural, and environmental factors affecting the caries prevalence.
Highlights
MethodsThis study conducted in 2019 included all the available records in the electronic system of the Oral Health Promotion Project (OHPP) during 2013–2017
This study examined the prevalence of caries in first permanent molars (FPMs) in 6–8-yearold children in Zhejiang Province and their distribution in terms of period, gender, urban and rural areas, and geographic location of residence, i.e., south, north, east, west, and the central region
The data showed that the prevalence of FPM caries in Zhejiang Province followed a generally increasing trend in 6–8-year-old schoolchildren, with the incidence rising from 20.4% in 2013 to 29.0% in 2017, consistent with the results of the 4th CNOHS conducted in 2015–2016 [3]
Summary
This study conducted in 2019 included all the available records in the electronic system of the OHPP during 2013–2017. With written informed consent distributed by class teachers and recovered from guardian participants over the years, all the second grade schoolchildren aged 6–8 from all the primary schools in the province underwent clinical examinations of their FPMs and, if suitable, accepted pit and fissure sealing. A total of 86,762 volunteer dentists participated in the project for five years after they were provided with a brochure with guidelines for clinical examinations and detection of caries based on WHO criteria [12]. All these dentists were trained step by step from provincial level to municipal level and county level. At least 2 districts or counties would be selected
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