Incidence of severe dental caries in preschool children in rural areas of Guangzhou and its risk factors

Abstract

Objective To explore prevalence rate of severe dental caries in preschool children and its influencing factors in the rural areas of Guangzhou and provide some references for the development of targeted prevention and control measures. Methods 3-6 years old rural preschool children were selected from Hualong and Xinzao, Panyu, Guangzhou. Questionnaire survey was carried out in the children’s parents to investigate the children’s general condiotns, family economic status, family environment, and family hygiene. And the children were checked for dental caries. Results 755 questionnaires were collected, with an efficient of 94.38%. 365 children were found with dental caries; the caries incidence was 48.34% (365/755); among which, 167 cases were severe caries, accounting for 22.12% (167/755). Logistic multivariate analysis showed that eating before going to bed and not brushing teeth, drinking sugary beverages, brushing teeth shortly each time, mastication feeding by caregivers, etc. were the risk factors of preschool children with severe dental caries and brushing teeth with parents’ help or under parents’ supervision was a protective factor for severe dental caries. Conclusions The incidence of severe dental caries in preschool children in the rural areas of Guangzhou is high. Preschool children should be trained to brush teeth before going to bed, not often drink sugary beverages, and brush teeth over 3 min, the caregivers should not do mastication feeding, and parents should supervise their children to brush teeth, so as to decrease the incidence of severe dental caries. Key words: Countryside; Preschool children; Severe dental caries; Risk factors; Questionnaire survey