Oral Health Status among Egyptian Preschool Children

Abstract

Background: Oral health is a part of general health, as oral cavity is considered a gateway of the body. Health of dentition and mouth play a major role in the children’s life. Aims: this study aimed to obtain updated information of oral health statues including dental caries situation, gingival condition and traumatic injuries in Egyptian preschool children. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in Mansoura city on one thousand children with an age from 3 - 6 years who were attending private and public kindergarten. Children were examined for dental caries using dmft index of primary teeth. Gingival condition was assessed using PMA index (papillary, marginal, and attached gingiva). Upper and lower primary anterior teeth were assessed for signs of dental trauma: treated dental injury, enamel fracture, enamel/dentin fracture, pulp injury, and missing teeth due to trauma. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi- square tests. Results: the prevalence of dental caries in preschool children was 61.4%, while the mean dmft was (2.930±3.281) in males and (2.332±2.852) in females. However, prevalence of gingival inflammation was 7.4%, and dental trauma was 10%. Enamel fracture was the highest followed by dentin fracture and discoloration. Conclusion: there was high prevalence of dental caries, while the prevalence of gingival inflammation and traumatic injury were low among Egyptian preschool children.