Caries Experience Of Children Research Articles

Relationship between Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status and Early Childhood Caries in Their Children: A Cross-sectional Survey.

Vitamin D deficiency in expectant mothers is very common in India. As a consequence, the possibility of hypoplasia of teeth and resultant propensity for faster progression of early childhood caries (ECC) is expected to be higher in Indian children. This study aimed to determine the relationship between prenatal vitamin D intake of mothers and dental caries experience in their preschool children, and whether vitamin D deficiency in mothers could be a risk factor for tooth decay in their children. This cross-sectional study included 120 mothers of children aged up to 71 months with dental caries attending the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in India. Mothers were surveyed about their prenatal vitamin D intake and their practices regarding vitamin D and sunlight exposure. Children were clinically examined, and their caries status was recorded using the decayed, extracted, filled teeth (deft) index. Data were analyzed descriptively and correlated using an independent t-test. Binary logistic regression was employed to predict the effects of the duration of sun exposure and vitamin D deficiency on dental decay. The correlation of mothers' prenatal vitamin D intake was significantly associated weekly with children's caries experience. Their sun exposure (p = 0.002) and practices adopted (p = 0.0001) regarding vitamin D levels were statistically significant for children's caries status. Improper brushing frequency was also significantly associated with higher deft scores. The association between mothers' prenatal vitamin D intake and health practices related to vitamin D with dental caries was not confirmed. Subjects with vitamin D deficiency and their children had significantly higher odds of developing dental decay. However, our findings suggest that 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency may be a risk factor for developing dental caries in children. Kalra G, Kumar Y, Langpoklakpam C, et al. Relationship between Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status and Early Childhood Caries in Their Children: A Cross-sectional Survey. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(8):860-863.

The accuracy of parent/carer proxy-reporting of caries experience in children and association with socioeconomic circumstances: a cross-sectional data linkage study.

To compare parent/carer proxy-reported dental caries experience of their 5-year-old child with epidemiological survey clinician examination of caries experience in the same children. To determine any differences in the accuracy by area-based socioeconomic group. A cross-sectional data linkage study linked data from the Growing Up in Scotland (GUS) study and the National Dental Inspection Programme (NDIP) school epidemiology survey. Parent/carer proxy-reported caries experience was compared with clinician-measured caries experience on n=3008 children, and data were stratified by home-residential area-based socioeconomic deprivation levels (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated overall and stratified by SIMD. Overall, parent/carer proxy-reporting had low sensitivity (42.3% 95%CI: 39.0, 45.7) that decreased with decreasing deprivation (SIMD-1(most deprived): 49.4% to SIMD-5 (least deprived): 37.2%). Specificity remained consistently high overall and across area-based socioeconomic deprivation levels (overall=96.2%, 95%CI: 95.3, 97.0; SIMD-1: 94.4% SIMD-5: 97.8%). In children whose parents/carers reported them to have caries experience (GUS) a high percentage were found to have caries experience (NDIP) (PPV=81.8%, 95%CI: 78.2, 84.9). Parent/carer proxy-reporting of caries experience in 5-year-old children had very low sensitivity and was lowest in children from the least deprived areas. In contrast, parents/carers who reported their child had caries experience did so reasonably accurately. This study concludes that proxy reporting caries experience is not sufficiently sensitive to replace clinician examination in assessing dental caries experience in surveys of child populations and highlights the importance of data linkage to routine datasets.

Caries Incidence and Its Associated Factors in Hong Kong Kindergarten Children

ObjectiveThe study aimed to investigate caries incidence and its associate factors among kindergarten children in Hong Kong. MethodThis 30-month prospective study recruited 3- to 4-year-old children when they started their kindergarten study. A self-administered parental questionnaire survey was used to collect the children's social demographic information and their oral health-related habits. Child's caries experience was recorded using the decayed, missing, and filled tooth (dmft) index and the visible plaque index (VPI) was used to measure their oral hygiene status. A final examination was performed after 30 months when they were in the final year of kindergarten. Data were analysed using the zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression model. ResultsThis study examined 660 children at baseline and 501 children at the final examination (dropout 24%). At baseline, the caries prevalence among 501 children was 23%, with mean (SD) dmft scores of 0.7 (1.8). At the final examination, caries prevalence increased to 41%, with mean (SD) dmft scores of 1.6 (2.8). The 30-month incidence rate was 34%, and the mean (SD) number of new carious teeth developed was 0.9 (1.7). Lower first molars exhibited the highest caries increment rate (11%), followed by upper second molars (9%) and upper central incisors (9%). ZINB regression analysis revealed associations among caries incidence and family income, baseline dmft, and baseline VPI (P < .05). ConclusionsOne third of Hong Kong kindergarten children developed new caries. Low family income, prior caries experience and poor oral hygiene were the significant factors associated with their caries incidence. Clinical RelevanceMany children developed new caries during their kindergarten years, with their caries experience more than doubling. Preventive measures, including oral health education and reinforcing oral hygiene practice in kindergarten, are essential to reduce their caries incidence, particularly for children with low family income, caries experience and poor oral hygiene.

Стоматологічний статус дітей з вродженими вадами серця і магістральних судин в Україні

Introduction: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common congenital defect worldwide. The increase in the number of patients with CHD creates a group of people with individual special care needs, including dental care. Purpose: to evaluate oral health conditions (oral hygiene, caries experience, periodontal health) in children with CHD and compare their caries experience with the one of the group of healthy children in Ukraine. Materials and methods: Fifty-eight children with congenital heart disease and eighty healthy children aged 3-15 years were enrolled in this study. According to their age and period of dentition, all the children were subdivided into 3 groups: with primary, mixed and permanent dentition. Caries experience, oral hygiene, periodontal health and dental developmental defects were assessed. A one-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and an independent-measures t-Test were used. All statistical analyses were performed using the statistical software (SPSS version 26.0, SPSS Inc.). The statistical significance was set at 5%. Results and discussion: The caries experience of children with CHD and healthy children in primary dentition was 4.0 and 6.4 respectively. The highest DMFT was registered in children with CHD in mixed (4.7) and permanent (4.6) dentitions. 33,3% of children with primary dentition and up to 52,9% in mixed dentition had poor oral hygiene. Conclusions: According to limitation of this epidemiological study, there were no significant differences in caries experience of children with congenital heart disease and healthy children in primary and mixed dentitions. These findings indicate the importance of preventive dental care and appropriate treatment of children with CHD. Key words: congenital heart disease, oral health, children, caries, airway volume, dentoalveolar abnormalities.

Dental problems in children with autism: a 5-year study.

Caries experience of children and complex clinical circumstances are an actual challenge for any healthcare professional. To investigate the early childhood caries (ECC) in autistic and non autistic children (≤4 years of age) evaluating the amount of dental damage and the treatments carried out in both groups. Data regarding the oral health status of 40 patients (≤4 years of age) were assembled. The sample group was constituted of 20 autistic children (12 males with a mean age of 2.5 years and 8 females with a mean age of 3.2 years) whereas 20 patients without the autistic spectrum represented the control group (11 males with a mean age of 3 and 9 females with a mean age of 3.3 years). There were no significant differences between the two groups as regards both the extent of dental damage and the treatments carried out. About the frequency, in the autistic group, the most frequent caries were the white spots and enamel proximal lesions (2.2%), followed by only white spots (1.2%) and brown-black cavities and root stumps (0.6%). In the control group, the brown-black cavities and root stumps represented the most frequent findings (2.2%), followed by white spots and enamel proximal lesions (1.4%) and white spots (0.4%). Regarding the treatments, the most repeated management of dental damage among autistic patients was composite restorations (2.2%) while in nonautistic patients were tooth extractions (2%).

Correlation between Parents' Knowledge of Calcium Foods and Dental Caries Experience in Preschool Children

Problem statement: The prevalence of caries in Indonesia in children aged 3-4 years is 81.5% with a def-t score of 6.2 and the prevalence of caries in children aged 5 years is 90.2% with a def-t score of 8.1. Preschool children are prone to dental caries, one of the dental and oral health service efforts that can be done is in the form of preventing dental and oral diseases. It has been found that foods and drinks containing calcium can help prevent dental caries. Purpose: This study aims to determine whether there is a relationship between parents' knowledge of calcium-based foods and the dental caries experience of preschoolers at IT Al-Hikmah Kindergarten, Cirebon City. Method: This study used a cross-sectional design. The population in this study were all children and parents of TK Al-Hikmah Cirebon City with a total sample of 60 parents and 60 children. Analysis of the results of the study using the Spearman rank test. Results: The majority of parents' knowledge about calcium-based foods was good (55%) and the category of dental caries experience for preschoolers was very low (26.7%). Parents with good knowledge and their child's caries experience rate is very low (21.7%). The Spearman rank test results have a significance value of 0.00 and a correlation coefficient value of -0.580. Conclusion: there is a significant relationship with moderate strength and not in the same direction between parents' knowledge about calcium foods and preschool children's caries experience.

Maternal Factors in Relation to Early Childhood Caries Among Preschool Children in Myanmar.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 3- to 5-year-old preschool children in Yangon City in 2016-2017 to investigate the association between their caries experience and maternal factors. Children's oral examination and questionnaire surveys to their mothers were conducted. Children's caries prevalence was 82.9% with mean dmft of 6.4 ± 4.9. Mean oral health knowledge score of their mothers was 8.5 ± 2.8. Mother's educational level and oral health knowledge were significant predictors of childhood caries. Third- or later-born children were twice more likely to have dental caries than first-born children (P = .022). Mother's regular dental check-up resulted in significantly lower odds ratios for caries development in her child. Children's caries experience was high and mother's oral health knowledge regarding the importance of primary teeth was unsatisfactory. It is, therefore, necessary to improve awareness and attentiveness for prevention of childhood caries among parents and guardians in Myanmar.

Genetic variation in the glucosyltransferase-B gene of Streptococcus mutans and its relationship with caries experience in children from Córdoba, Argentina, and with strains from other countries.

We explored how the glucosyltransferase-B (gtf-B) gene variability of S. mutans from children in central Argentina correlated with their caries experience and how these strains were genetically related to those of other countries. Dental examinations were performed on 59 children; dmft and DMFT indexes were calculated. From stimulated saliva, S. mutans was grown and counted (CFU/ml). From bacterial DNA, the gtf-B gene was amplified and sequenced. Alleles were identified and their genealogical relationships established. Clinical, microbiological, and genetic variables were correlated with caries experience. Our sequences were included in a matrix with those from 16 countries (n=358); genealogical relationships among alleles were obtained. Population genetic analyses were performed for countries with >20 sequences. The mean dmft+DMFT was 6.45. Twenty-two gtf-B alleles were identified here, which showed low genetic differentiation in the network. Caries experience was correlated with CFU/ml, but not with allele variation. Low differentiation was found among the 70 alleles recovered from the 358 sequences and among the countries analyzed. In this study, caries experience in children was correlated with the number of CFU/ml of S. mutans but not with the gtf-B gene variability. Combined genetic analyses of worldwide strains support the theory that this bacterium experienced population expansions, probably associated with agriculture development and/or food industrialization.

Dental Caries Experience in Children in Public Kindergartens of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dental caries first occurs within primary dentition in toddlers and preschool children, in a form of early childhood caries (ECC). In every day's busy and employment burdened parenting, caretakers and institutions have become important even more nowadays, not only for forming child general behavior and character, but also for maintenance of their general and oral health as well. To evaluate the presence and severity of ECC in children who attended public kindergartens in Sarajevo, and to offer basic information for the maintenance and improvement of child oral health to their parents and kindergarten teachers. The study included 1722 preschool children aged 3-6 years who attended kindergartens within Sarajevo public kindergarten institution, together with their parents and kindergarten teachers. Dental team members gradually visited all kindergartens situated in four Sarajevo city municipalities and examined kindergarten children according to the WHO Oral Health Survey Manual. Oral health promotion material for parents and kindergarten teachers was also distributed simultaneously during sequential visits. ECC was present in preschool kindergarten children in Sarajevo, with its high prevalence (67.71%); dmft-value (3.97) and severity (SiC index 8.79). There was also a significant lack of dental healthcare to examined children mostly related to lack of visiting dental offices by children's parents (CI=10.55%, RI=10.80%, TI=12.98%). Parental role in preserving and improving of their children oral health should be systematically and profoundly improved. Kindergarten officials and staff should recognize the importance of anticariogenic diet menus and oral hygiene maintenance within their institutions.

Associations between maternal mental health, child dental anxiety, and oral health of 6- to 12-year-olds in Nigeria.

Maternal mental health affects their children's oral health. This study assessed the associations between maternal mental health and dental anxiety level, dental caries experience, oral hygiene, and gingival status among 6- to 12-year-old children in Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study that recruited mother-child dyad participants through a household survey conducted in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Data collected included the independent (maternal mental health risk, depressive symptoms, and child's dental anxiety), and dependent (caries experience, oral hygiene status, and gingival health status) variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the associations between dependent and independent variables after adjusting for confounders (mothers' age, child's age, sex, and socioeconomic status). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Of the 1411 mothers recruited, 1248 (88.4%) had low mental health risk, and 896 (63.5%) had mild depressive symptoms. As for the children, 53 (3.8%) had caries, 745 (52.8%) had moderate to high dental anxiety, 953 (63.0%) had gingivitis and 36 (2.6%) had poor oral hygiene. The maternal mental health risk was not significantly associated with the child's caries experience (AOR: 1.012; 95%CI: 0.860-1.190; p = 0.886), poor oral hygiene (AOR:1.037; 95%CI: 0.975-1.104; p=0.250), and moderate/severe gingivitis (AOR:0.887; 95%CI: 0.764-1.030; p = 0.115). Maternal depression status was not significantly associated with the child's caries experience (AOR: 0.910; 95%CI: 0.802-1.033; p = 0.145), poor oral hygiene (AOR: 1.016; 95%CI: 0.976-1.057; p = 0.439), and moderate/severe gingivitis (AOR: 0.963; 95%CI: 0.861-1.077; p = 0.509). Maternal mental health risk and depression do not seem to be risk factors for schoolchildren's oral health in Nigeria. Further studies are needed to understand these findings.

Risk Factors for Dental Caries Experience in Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy-A Scoping Review.

Cerebral palsy is a developmental motor disorder which has far-reaching impacts on oral health. This scoping review examined the extent of research undertaken regarding the risk factors affecting dental caries experience in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Data were obtained from the electronic databases Web of Science and PubMed, using 10 search strings, for studies published between 1983 and 2018. Eligible studies were required to have investigated caries in children under 18 with cerebral palsy, as well as be written in English. 30 papers published were identified for inclusion in the review. These included 23 cross-sectional, 6 case–control, and 1 longitudinal study. Studies were categorized into six domains of risk factors: socioeconomic status (SE); cerebral palsy subtype (CPS); demographics (D); condition of oral cavity (OC); dental habits (DH); nutrition and diet (ND). This review was conducted and reported in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. The most significant risk factors were caregiver-related education levels, oral health literacy, and sugar intake; this underlines the important role of special education and dental awareness in reducing dental caries incidence in CP children. Other factors showed divergent findings, highlighting the need for standardization and culturally specific studies in future literature.

Children's and Parents' Marburg Sugar Index (MSI) Values: Are They Comparable?

Studies on children’s nutritional behaviour (CNB) rarely compare children’s answers regarding the frequency of their sugar intake with the respective statements of their parents. Therefore, data from a prevention study were used to analyse this aspect, as well as a potential correlation between Marburg Sugar Index (MSI) values and caries experience of children. The present study based its questionnaire data on CNB and caries data. Pairs of questionnaires filled in separately by children and parents of the participating families were dichotomised by either having completed the diet section entirely (Group A) or in part (Group B). The MSI scores were calculated separately for children and parents. The statistical confidence level was set at α = 0.05 (two-sided). Furthermore, the Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated and tested for “r = 0”. Additionally, a test for equality of the correlations was applied. The number of available questionnaire pairs was 429 in Group A and 400 in Group B. In both groups, significant correlations between children’s and parents’ MSI scores (A: r = 0.301, p < 0.001; B: r = 0.226, p < 0.001) were found. Using Spearman’s Rho, a significant correlation between MSI scores and children’s caries experiences was observed in Group A. MSI scores based on dietary questionnaires can be used to obtain consistent information on children’s CNB provided by the children themselves or their parents. This is true even when the MSI score has to be calculated on the basis of incomplete questionnaires. Questionnaire-based CNB information can improve the effectiveness of individual or group preventive measures supplemented by individually adapted nutritional counselling.

Parental acculturation and oral health of children among immigrants.

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the associations between parental acculturation level and strategies and children's caries experience and oral health (OH) behaviors. Participants were immigrant parents of children aged 2-12 years. Data were collected by validated questionnaires gathering information on socio-demographics, child's OH behaviors, and parents'; acculturation and dental examinations determining child's caries experience using DMFT/dmft index. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used. Three hundred and thirty-six parent/child dyads completed the study. Length of residency (B=0.103; 95% CI: 0.064, 0.141) parents' education (B=1.691; 95% CI: 1.228, 2.155), and household income (B=-0.959; 95% CI: -1.566, -0.352) significantly predicted acculturation level. Parents with high Canadian cultural knowledge reported higher frequency of children's toothbrushing (p-value=0.015). Parents of children who consumed sugar >1/day had higher mean scores of acculturation to Canadian culture (p-value=0.016), English language proficiency (p-value=0.024), and Canadian food adoption (p-value=0.046). Parents of children who visited the dentist within last 12 months had significantly higher assimilation and lower separation mean scores. Parents of children who visited dentist because of dental problems had higher marginalization mean score than those who went for check-ups (p-value=0.046). Parental acculturation was not significantly correlated with their children's dmft/DMFT level. Children of highly acculturated parents reported higher toothbrushing frequency and were more likely to consume sugar than children of less acculturated parents. Assimilated parents reported more and marginalized parents reported less favorable OH behaviors than other categories. Parental acculturation level or strategy was not associated with children's caries experience.

Routine Data Analyses for Estimating the Caries Treatment Experience of Children

Oral health surveys are considered the gold standard for assessing the caries experience of children. Analyses of routine data offer additional opportunities not yet fully explored. This study aimed at estimating the caries treatment experience by mining an insurance claims database. Comprehensive claims data sets were extracted from the data warehouse of a major health insurance company (BARMER, Germany). A surrogate variable for caries experience was formed that reflected the proportion of children without any former potentially caries-related treatment (filling, root canal treatment, and extraction) at ages from 1 to 14 years. The statistical calculations were based on Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. The evaluation for the permanent dentition comprised N = 593,330 children at 6 years and N = 114,568 at 12 years. At 12 years of age, 66.8% had not yet experienced potentially caries-related treatments. This value hints at a significantly higher caries experience at 12 years compared to available epidemiological data. For the deciduous dentition, the respective rates were 74.0% at 6 years and 45.8% at 10 years. Although various sources of bias have to be taken into account, the potential of routine data mining is evident. The approach is supplemental to oral health surveys. It can be useful in coming closer to reality when estimating the caries experience of children. From our results, we conclude that the oral health of up to 14-year-olds in Germany remains in urgent need of improvement.

Limited quality evidence suggests children and adolescents with down syndrome have lower prevalence of dental caries compared to non-syndromic children

Silva MCPMD, Lyra MCA, Almeida HCR, Alencar Filho AV, Heimer MV, Rosenblatt A. Caries experience in children and adolescents with Down Syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Oral Biol. 2020 Jul;115:104,715. doi:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2020.104715. Epub 2020 Apr 8. PMID: 32,422,361. The Hungarian Human Resources Development Operational Program, the Higher Education Excellence Program of the Hungarian Ministry of Human Capacities to the Therapy Research Module of Semmelweis University, National Research, Development and Innovation Office, Hungarian Scientific Research Fund and the Economic Development and Innovation Operative Programme Grant. Systematic review with meta-analysis.

Halitosis and Associated Risk Factors in Children: A Cross-sectional Study

To investigate risk factors associated with halitosis in children using OralChroma™. Sixty-seven children between the ages of 3 and 8 who attended a pre-general anesthesia assessment at the Dental University Hospital at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were enrolled in this study after satisfying the inclusion criteria. Demographic data, medical history, and oral hygiene practices were obtained by a standardized questionnaire completed by the parents of each child. Clinical dental examination was conducted to record the following: caries index (dmft/DMFT), simplified debris index (DI-S), modified gingival index (MGI), and Winkel tongue coating index (WTCI). Clinical halitosis was assessed using the OralChroma™ device that measures the concentration of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) including hydrogen sulfide (H2S), methyl mercaptan (CH3SH), and dimethyl sulfide (CH3SCH3). Statistics were completed using Spearman's correlation coefficient and Mann-Whitney U-test to assess the association with the VSC scores with continuous and binary variables, respectively. Then, multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to detect the degree of association. High VSC measures were detected in 58 children (87%). The dmft/DMFT was significantly associated with H2S level (β = 26.84, p = 0.034) and CH3SH level (β = 19.96, p = 0.016) after controlling possible confounders. There was no significant association of DI-S, MGI, and WTCI with the VSC measures. The result suggested that dmft/DMFT score (children's caries experience) is associated significantly with high levels of H2S and CH3SH in the sample studied. Caries experience in children is a significant risk factor for halitosis and should be considered during the management of halitosis.

Small-area contextual effects on children's dental caries in Alberta: a multilevel analysis.

The objective of this study was to examine the presence of small-area-level effects on children's dental caries in Alberta, Canada, where dental public health programming is targeted in nature, based on an area-level measure of socio-economic circumstances. This cross-sectional study included data on tooth decay (from an intra-oral examination conducted by dental hygienists at school) and socio-demographic and behavioural information (from a parent questionnaire) from 5677 grade 1 and 2 schoolchildren attending schools in public or Catholic school systems in Calgary and Edmonton in 2013/2014. Area-level socio-economic circumstances were quantified using the Pampalon Material Deprivation Index derived from census data, applied to the dissemination area (DA) of the child's school. The outcome variable was presence (vs. absence) of tooth decay (cavitation). Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling with two levels: individual level (level 1) and school dissemination area (DA) (level 2). We observed a small but statistically significant area-level effect on children's caries experience, above and beyond individual-level characteristics. Study findings are relevant to dental public health programming in Alberta and other jurisdictions that use targeted strategies. Multilevel interventions, including universal approaches, are necessary to reduce inequities in children's dental caries.

Impact of Parents' Sense of Coherence on Children's Oral Health-Related Behaviors and Dental Caries Experience among Newcomers.

To examine the relationship between parents' sense of coherence (SOC) and children's oral health outcomes among newcomers (immigrants to Canada). Immigrant parents with children aged 1-12 years who lived in Canada for 10 years or less were recruited. Outcome variables included children's caries experience (DMFT/dmft) and oral health-related behaviors (frequency of toothbrushing, sugar intake, and dental visits). Parents SOC was measured. Among 274 parents: mean (SD) age 34.92 (6.35) years; 57% post-secondary education; 38% monthly income below $2000; and 41% living in Canada for less than five years. Children: mean (SD) age 4.5 (2.9) years; 55% born in Canada; 42% dental coverage; 52% untreated caries. The mean (SD) of parents' SOC was 59.1 (12.03). Sense of coherence scores were not significantly associated with children's caries experience and oral health behaviors. Parent's SOC was relatively low among newcomers and not associated with children's oral health outcomes.

Dental Caries Experience in Children with Congenital Heart Disease Visiting A Private Dental College

Dental Caries Experience in Children with Congenital Heart Disease Visiting A Private Dental College

The impact of different determinants on the dental caries experience of children living in Australia rural and urban areas.

Evidence suggests there are geographical variations in child oral health and this has prompted research into determinants of that variation. This study aimed to investigate factors attributable to the difference in child oral health between urban and rural areas in Australia. Data were from the National Child Oral Health Study 2012-14, a population-based study of 5- to 14-year-old children, who underwent oral epidemiological examinations by trained examiners. Caries prevalence (dmfs/DMFS>0) and experience (dmfs/DMFS count) in the primary dentition (5- to 8-year-old) and permanent dentition (9- to 14-year-old) were calculated. Children were grouped by residential location (urban or rural areas). A parental questionnaire collected information on family socio-economic factors, and individual health behaviours (dental access, sugar consumption and toothbrushing). Residential history was used to calculate lifetime exposure to water fluoridation (WF). Analyses were weighted to produce population-representative estimates. The primary outcomes were assessed separately for the two groups in regression models with robust standard error estimation to estimate prevalence ratios and mean ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. Population Attributable Fractions were calculated using the population distribution of the exposures and their adjusted estimates. 10581 5- to 8-year-old and 14041 9- to 14-year-old children were included. Caries prevalence was higher in rural than in urban areas. In multivariable models, exposure to fluoridation, reason for dental visit and consumption of sugary beverages were consistently associated with caries prevalence and experience. WF coverage attributed to differences in caries prevalence (10% vs 21%) and experience (14% vs 35%) in the permanent dentition. High consumption of sugary beverages attributed to a higher primary and permanent dental caries experience in rural than in urban areas. Dental access was also attributed to the differences between the two areas. Factors at both community and individual levels attributed to the observed differences in child caries prevalence and experience between urban and rural areas.