Prevalence Of Early Childhood Caries Research Articles

Socio-behavioural factors and early childhood caries: a cross-sectional study of preschool children in central Trinidad

BackgroundEarly childhood caries (ECC) is a public health problem due to its impact on children’s health, development and well being. Little is known about early childhood oral health in the West Indies or the influence of social and behavioural factors on the prevalence and severity of early childhood caries in this preschool population. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence and severity of ECC in preschool children in a region of central Trinidad and to explore its relationship with social and behavioural factors.MethodA cross-sectional survey was undertaken on children aged 3-5 years-old from a random sample of preschools in central Trinidad. Oral health examinations were conducted for children for whom parental consent was given, using WHO criteria (visual diagnosis / cavitation at d3). A self-reported questionnaire was distributed to all parents and caregivers. Variables included socio-demographics, oral health knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, visible caries experience and treatment need.Results251 children were examined, 50.2% were male with a mean age of 3.7 years (SD 0.67) and 71% were of Indian ethnicity. The prevalence of ECC was 29.1% and the prevalence of severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) was 17.5%. 29.9% of children had some treatment need, with 12% in need of urgent care or referral. Poisson generalized linear mixed model analysis found a higher rate of visible caries experience for children who ate sweet snacks more than twice a day (p < 0.001), had poorer parental dental health ratings (p < 0.0001), a previous dental visit (p < 0.0001) and difficulty finding dental care (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe prevalence and severity of ECC in central Trinidad was related to oral health behaviours and access to dental care. Oral health promotion should include more supportive and practical advice for parents and caregivers of preschool children along with improved access to dental care to enable primary prevention and management of ECC.

PREVALENCIA DE CARIES DE LA INFANCIA TEMPRANA Y FACTORES DE RIESGO ASOCIADOS EN NIÑOS DE 1 A 5 AÑOS EN LA CIUDAD DE SANTIAGO DE CALI

Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia de Caries de la Infancia Temprana (CIT) en niños de 1 a 5 años de la ciudad de Cali y describir los factores de riesgo asociados.Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal, de prevalencia con todas las instituciones educativas inscritas en la Secretaría de Educación. La muestra la constituyeron 929 menores a quienes se les indagó mediante un cuestionario dirigido a sus padres, acerca de los factores de riesgo asociados con caries dental. Se realizó un examen clínico intraoral para determinar el índice ceo-d según los criterios de la Organización Mundial de la Salud y se evaluó el índice de placa bacteriana de Sillness y Löe. Se realizó un análisis univariado para describir las variables y conocer la distribución de la variable de salida. Para el bivariado se utilizó la prueba Chi2 y la correlación de Spearman, según el tipo de variable. Para comparación del índice ceo-d según estrato socioeconómico y hábitos de higiene como el cepillado antes de acostarse, se utilizó la prueba de Kruskal-Wallis.Resultados: se encontró una prevalencia de CIT de 29,3%, siendo esta mayor en el estrato socioeconómico bajo. De los factores de riesgo analizados, se encontró una asociación significativa con no cepillar al niño antes de dormir con un OR de 1,50 [IC 95%: 1,09 - 2,07, p=0,008].Conclusiones: la prevalencia de caries dental fue mayor que la reportada para Cali en el ENSAB III a los 5 años. Se utilizó como índice para caries dental el ceo-d sin incluir lesiones precavitacionales, lo que podría subestimar la prevalencia de esta entidad en la población de estudio.[Arango MC, Jaramillo A, Cruz CA. Prevalencia de caries de la infancia temprana y factores de riesgo asociados en niños de 1 a 5 años en la ciudad de Santiago de Cali. Ustasalud 2013; 12: 108 - 115]

The association between oral hygiene behavior and knowledge of caregivers of children with severe early childhood caries

Background/purposeThe prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) was 56% and 68.97% in Taiwan and Southern Taiwan, respectively. Children with severe caries suffer from health and growth problems, and to prevent the development of severe caries, possible risk factors must be identified. Oral health practices and the knowledge of primary caregivers regarding basic oral health were the main factors associated with the development of severe ECC (S-ECC). The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and habits of primary caregivers with regard to oral health. Materials and methodsChildren, aged 2–5 years old, with S-ECC (n = 101) who visited the Division of Dentistry of Children and Disabled of Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital were recruited for this survey. Habits and knowledge related to oral hygiene were obtained with a standardized questionnaire completed by the primary caregivers of children with S-ECC. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Access software and JMP statistical software. Chi-square test, ANOVA, and linear regression were used for statistical comparison. ResultsThe test comprised a total of 10 questions, and each correct answer earned 10 points, for a total score of 100. The average score was 46.05. The education level of mothers was strongly associated with the score of oral health knowledge. The oral hygiene habits of caregivers, including cleaning the mouth after meals and using fluoride, were associated with the behavior of children regarding oral hygiene (frequency of brushing teeth and using fluoride). ConclusionPoor oral hygiene behavior and the knowledge of caregivers are associated with dental hygiene behavior of children with S-ECC. However, such education should be directed toward those with a lower level of education and lower socio-economic status.

Factors associated with the development of early childhood caries among Brazilian preschoolers

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) in children and investigate the influence of sociodemographic variables, quality of oral hygiene and child-related aspects. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 593 children aged three to five years. Data were collected through clinical examinations and interviews with parents. Interviews with parents of the children were conducted to acquire information on sociodemographic aspects, breastfeeding, bottle feeding and harmful oral habits. Statistical analysis involved the chi-square test and the Poisson regression. The prevalence of ECC was 53.6%. The occurrence of ECC was greater among children with unsatisfactory oral hygiene (PR: 2.95; 95% CI: 2.42-3.60) and those from a family with a lower monthly household income (PR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.24-2.10). In conclusion, unsatisfactory oral hygiene and monthly income exerted an influence on the occurrence of ECC among preschoolers.

Dietary Intake and Severe Early Childhood Caries in Low-Income, Young Children

Evidence suggests that risk for early childhood caries (ECCs), the most common chronic infectious disease in childhood, is increased by specific eating behaviors. To identify whether consumption of added sugars, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and 100% fruit juice, as well as eating frequency, are associated with severe ECCs, cross-sectional data collected from a sample of low-income, racially diverse children aged 2 to 6 years were used. Four hundred fifty-four children with severe ECCs and 429 caries-free children were recruited in 2004-2008 from three pediatric dental clinics in Columbus, OH; Cincinnati, OH; and Washington, DC. Dietary data were obtained from one parent-completed 24-hour recall and an interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess associations between severe ECCs and dietary variables. On average, children with severe ECCs consumed 3.2-4.8 fl oz more SSBs (24-hour recall=1.80 vs 1.17; P< 0.001; FFQ=0.82 vs 0.39; P<0.001) and reported significantly more daily eating occasions (5.26 vs 4.72; P<0.0001) than caries-free children. After controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, maternal education, recruitment site, and family size, children with the highest SSB intake were 2.0 to 4.6 times more likely to have severe ECCs compared with those with the lowest intake, depending on dietary assessment method (24-hour recall odds ratio 2.02, 95% CI 1.33 to 3.06; FFQ odds ratio 4.63, 95% CI 2.86 to 7.49). The relationship between eating frequency and severe ECC status was no longer significant in multivariate analyses. Specific dietary guidance for parents of young children, particularly regarding SSB consumption, could help reduce severe ECC prevalence.

Prevalence and determinant of early childhood caries among the children attending the Anganwadis of Wardha district, India

Dental caries is one of the most common chronic diseases of early childhood. Dental problems in early childhood have been shown to be predictive of future dental problems, growth and development by interfering with comfort, nutrition, concentration, and school participation. To find out the prevalence of Early childhood caries (ECC) among the children attending the Anganwadis of Wardha district, to determine the feeding habits and their relationship to early childhood caries. Community-based cross-sectional study among the selected Anganwadis children of 2-5 years of Wardha district. A total 330 subjects, 105 children were found to be having ECC, 47 (30.92%) males and 58 (32.58%) females. Total 215 children belonged to 43-60 months age group. Out of these, 72 (33.48%) children were having ECC. A significant association was found between the history of bottle-feeding and ECC (P = 0.0218). Prevalence of ECC was more among those who were bottle-fed than those who were not bottle-fed. Future health promotion and education programs in Anganwadis should include oral health issues and the risk factors for ECC, and its consequences should be addressed. Public-funded oral health program should be started and targeted at children from lower socioeconomic status. Effective strategies should be developed to promote use of brush and paste for cleaning teeth and discouraging inappropriate bottle-feeding, discouraging on demand consumption of chocolates and sugars.

Prevalence of caries among preschool-aged children in a central Anatolian population

Objective:Early childhood caries (ECC) is a particularly destructive form of tooth decay that afflicts young children. The etiology and associated factors of ECC should be studied adequately to overcome this health hazard. The aim of this study was to determine caries prevalence and its consequences in toddlers in an Anatolian city, Kırıkkale.Materials and Methods:Examinations were performed in family medicine centers by three calibrated dentists during a period of 6 months. The status of dental caries was recorded according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. We recorded the clinical indexes of decayed, missed, and filled teeth (DMFT and dmft; upper-case letters refer to permanent and lower-case letters to primary teeth), and decayed, missed, and filled surfaces (DMFS).Results:Totally 3171 toddlers were included (52% males and 48% females). The mean age was 25.8 ± 10.1 months. The prevalence of ECC in preschool children was 17.3%, while the mean df(t) was 0.63 ± 1.79. ECC increased significantly with age. Dental caries were mostly observed in primary maxillary central teeth. Occlusal and buccal surfaces were the most affected sites. The difference in distribution of caries between maxilla and mandibula was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05).Conclusions:When compared to other data obtained from various epidemiologic studies, the toddlers living in Kırıkkale city center had a significant caries level. This observation had clearly suggested that early preventive measures should urgently be put into effect all over the city.

Early Childhood Dental Caries: A Rising Dental Public Health Crisis

The aim of this article is to examine the literature and review the risk factors and disparities contributing to early childhood caries (ECC), which is a major health problem among preschoolers in the United States of America. A search was conducted using MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library databases and the key terms ‘early childhood caries’, ‘baby bottle tooth decay’, ‘nursing caries’, ‘dental caries’, and ‘access to dental care and disparities’. ECC is a multifactorial disease with risk factors like biological, social, environmental, dietary and cultural determinants. Prevalence of ECC is highest among disadvantaged children living in poverty and in high-risk North American population groups such as, American Indians, Mexican Americans and in Hispanics. It is also found in families with less education and who have limited access to dental care services. This summarized review of early childhood caries will determine the need of future intervention programs focusing on the underserved and disadvantaged section of the population to prevent ECC.

Early Childhood Caries Prevalence, Severity and Pattern in 3-6 Year Old Preschool Children of Mysore City, Karnataka

Objetivo: Determinar a prevalencia, severidade e caracteristicas da carie precoce na infância em Criancas de 3 a 6 Anos de idade de Mysore, India. Metodo: Dez pre-escolas, cinco publicas e cinco privadas foram aleatoriamente selecionadas de cinco diferentes areas da cidade de Mysore. Um total de 500 crianas e seus pais/responsaveis foram incluidas no estudo. A ocorrencia de carie precoce na infância foi diagnosticada com o uso dos criterios NIDCR. A existencia de carie dentaria foi feita com o uso dos indices ceo-d e ceo-s. Resultados: A prevalencia de carie precoce foi de 56,6% com um ceo-d e ceo-s medios de 2,20 e 2,97, respectivamente. Do total de criancas, 56% dos meninos e 57,1 % das meninas estavam afetadas. Nao se verificou diferenca na prevalencia de carie entre os estudantes da rede publica e privada. Cerca de 94,84% do total do ceo-d envolvia o componente cariado. O arco superior foi mais afetado (29,32%) do que o inferior (26,14%). As superficies oclusais foram as mais afetadas (46%) e as menos afetadas foram as superficies lisas (16%). Os molares inferiores foram os mais acometidos (39,42%) e os incisivos inferiores os menos afetados (1,84%). Conclusao: O aconselhamento oral deve ser iniciado aos seis meses quando da erupcao dos primeiros dentes deciduos.

Early Childhood Caries Prevalence, Severity and Pattern in 3-6 Year Old Preschool Children of Mysore City, Karnataka

Early Childhood Caries Prevalence, Severity and Pattern in 3-6 Year Old Preschool Children of Mysore City, Karnataka

Resultados de un sistema para la vigilancia de caries de la infancia temprana.

Objetivo: Describir los resultados de un sistema, implementado con los estudiantes de la Facultad de Estomatología Roberto Beltrán Neira, para la vigilancia de caries de la infancia temprana (CIT) en niños entre 6 y 36 meses de edad de comunidades urbano-marginales de Sol Naciente de Carabayllo. Materiales y métodos: Sesenta y dos de los 97 niños que aceptaron participar en la evaluación inicial durante el semestre 2004-I, fueron reexaminados a los 12 (semestre 2005-I) y 18 meses (semestre 2005-II) empleando los criterios diagnósticos recomendados por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Los resultados del sistema de vigilancia son descritos en términos de prevalencia e incidencia de CIT así como de experiencia de caries dental (índices ceod y ceos). Resultados: La prevalencia inicial de CIT fue de 24,2%, 8,2% y 2,6% por unidad persona, diente y superficie respectivamente, con un ceod de 1,10 + 2,51 dientes y un ceos de 1,50 + 3,71 superficies. Después de 18 meses, la incidencia de CIT fue de 4,3%, 2,6% y 1,3% por unidad persona, diente y superficie, encontrándose un incremento significativo de 0,32 dientes en el ceod (p&lt;0,001) y de 0,74 superficies en el ceos (p=0,001). Conclusiones: Los resultados indican un inicio temprano (prevalencia moderada) y desarrollo lento (baja incidencia) de la CIT en niños de 6 a 36 meses de las comunidades seleccionadas. Esta información es útil para planificar futuras intervenciones con un enfoque preventivoo recuperativo en este grupo de edad.

Impact of Early Childhood Caries on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Preschool Children and Their Parents

The aim of the present population study was to evaluate the impact of early childhood caries (ECC) on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of preschool children and their parents/caregivers. A random sample of 638 children (aged 2–5 years) underwent a clinical oral examination to assess ECC, and their parents were invited to answer two questionnaires: one on the OHRQoL of the child, the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale, and another on the characteristics and sociodemographic conditions of the child. Descriptive analysis, χ² test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and hierarchically adjusted Poisson regression models were used. The prevalence of ECC was 52.2%. The number of teeth with decay ranged from 1 (n = 42; 6.6%) to 20 (n = 5; 0.8%), averaging 2.86 (SD = 4.04). There was a significant difference between the severity of ECC and OHRQoL in terms of the impact on both child and family (p < 0.001). An increase in the severity of ECC resulted in an increased negative impact on the quality of life of the child (rate ratio, RR = 5.32; 95% confidence interval, CI: 3.67–7.71). Greater age of the mother had a positive impact on the OHRQoL of preschool children (RR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.54–0.97). Increased age resulted in an increased negative impact on the quality of life of the child (RR = 2.97; 95% CI: 1.61–5.47). ECC has a negative impact on the OHRQoL of children aged 2–5 years and their parents. Mothers aged 30 or older reported better OHRQoL, independent of the presence of ECC and the age of the child.

Prevalencia de caries temprana de la infancia en niños con enfermedades respiratorias crónicas

AbstrAct Prevalence of early childhood caries in children with chronic respiratory diseases introduction: children with chronic health conditions may have an increased risk for developing caries. although the literature on early childhood cavities (ecc) is extensive, little is known about its prevalence in children with these conditions. objective : to determine the prevalence of ecc in children with chronic respi-ratory disease (cRD) at Luis calvo Mackenna hospital in santiago, chile, and to determine their association. Patients and Methods : a cross-sectional study was performed on 120 children aged 2 to 5 years 11 months, a study group of 60 children with cRD and a control group of 60 healthy children were analyzed. ecc was diagnosed meeting the aapD criteria, an oral exam conducted by an operator under standardized conditions. the stata 11 program was used for statistical analysis. results : the prevalence of ecc was 53% in children with cRD and 25% in healthy children (p < 0.0001). the value of odds ratio for children with cRD was 7.046 showing an increased risk of ecc compared with healthy children. (95% cI: 2.372 to 20.929). conclusion: In this population, children with CRD have a high prevalence of ECC. In this sample, a statistically significant association between ecc and cRD was found.

Prevalence of early childhood caries among 3-5 year old pre-schoolers in schools of Marathahalli, Bangalore.

Dental caries among preschool children is still a major public health problem in many developing countries including India. Hence the aim of the present study was to find out the prevalence of Early Childhood Caries among 3-5 year old pre-schoolers in schools of Marathahalli, Bangalore. A cross sectional study was conducted on 717 pre-schoolers in 6 schools of Marathahalli. Clinical examination was performed and deft index was recorded using Gruebell's criteria. Early Childhood Caries was diagnosed using Early Childhood Caries Diagnostic Criteria, consistent with the NIDCR workshop statement. Data was analysed using SPSS 15.0 and descriptive statistics was applied. Chi-square test was used to find out the significant differences. The level of significance was taken at P value < 0.05. Prevalence of early childhood caries was 40% with a mean deft of 1.89 (+3.3) and Significant Caries Index score was 5.51. 44.8% of 3 year old had Early Childhood Caries, 35% of 4 year old children and 41% of 5 year old had Early Childhood Caries. Almost, all of deft was due to untreated caries. The results of the present study calls for a need to focus on pre-schoolers' oral health and parental education for prevention and early detection of Early Childhood Caries. A high Significant Caries Index in this study population indicates a more targeted approach for high risk pre-schoolers.

Mode of delivery, mutans streptococci colonization, and early childhood caries in three‐ to five‐year‐old Thai children

To investigate whether mode of delivery is associated with mutans streptococci (MS) colonization and early childhood caries (ECC) in preschool Thai children. Three hundred and fifty mothers and their 3- to 5-year-old children (184 born vaginally and 166 born by Caesarean section) participated in the study. Data included a dental examination, MS colonization assessed by the Dentocult(®) SM Strip Mutans method, and a questionnaire survey of family socio-demographic information, as well as children's birth history, dietary habits, and oral health practices. Overall, ECC prevalence was 56% in 3-year-old and 78% in 5-year-old Thai children. Compared to children delivered by C-section, vaginally born children experienced increased ECC prevalence (73.8% versus 59.6%; P = 0.009) and were more likely to have higher MS scores (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.1-2.9), adjusting for mother's gestational age, MS score, feeding practice habits; child's age and tooth brushing habits. Children's MS scores were highly correlated with their mothers' MS scores (P < 0.001). Additionally, children's age, MS colonization, and mothers' prechewing feeding habits were the most significant risk indicators for ECC in Thai children. Our findings suggest that mode of delivery is significantly correlated with MS colonization and caries outcomes in young Thai children. Future studies are needed to further understand the possible biological mechanisms linking mode of child delivery to the colonization of cariogenic microbiota and development of ECC.

Early Maternal Exposure to Children’s Oral Health may be Correlated with Lower Early Childhood Caries Prevalence in Their Children

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Reassessment at 6-7 years of age of a randomized controlled trial initiated before birth to prevent early childhood caries. Plutzer K, Spencer AJ, Keirse M. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2011 Oct 24. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2011.00643.x . [Epub ahead of print] Reviewer Francisco Ramos-Gomez, DDS, MS, MPH Purpose/Question Will providing mothers with guidance during pregnancy drastically reduce the prevalence of early childhood caries at 20 months of age and be sustained at 6 to 7 years of age? Source of Funding Supported with government funding from the NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence, Adelaide, South Australia. Type of Study/Design Randomized controlled trial Level of Evidence Level 2: Limited-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of Recommendation Grade Not applicable

Prevalence of early childhood caries and associated risk factors in preschool children of urban Bangalore, India: A cross-sectional study

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a devastating form of dental decay with multi-factorial origin. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to investigate the prevalence and related risk factors of ECC in preschool children of urban Bangalore (India). A random sample of 1,500 children aged between 8 and 48 months were selected from various parts of urban Bangalore. The status of dental caries was recorded according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Information regarding oral hygiene practices, feeding habits, socio-economic status, birth weight, and educational status of the mother was obtained through a structured questionnaire given to mothers of preschool children. The data was subjected to statistical analysis using the Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 12. The prevalence of ECC in preschool children was 27.5%, while the mean deft was 0.854. ECC increased significantly with age. Children whose mothers had no schooling and those who belonged to low socioeconomic group showed higher caries prevalence. A significant increase in caries prevalence was found in children accustomed to the practice of on-demand breast feeding and bottle feeding at night. Caries also increased significantly when snacks were consumed between meals. However, increased frequency of tooth-brushing, parental supervision, use of a baby toothbrush, and fluoridated dentifrice significantly decreased caries prevalence. ECC is a serious public health problem in this population and measures to increase awareness should be undertaken. The target candidates for oral health promotion programs should include mothers, general dentists, pediatricians, nurses, primary care health workers, care-takers at day-care centers and gynecologists.

A controlled, longitudinal study of home visits compared to telephone contacts to prevent early childhood caries

Home visits (HV) provide excellent opportunities for health promotion. This longitudinal study compared the effects of HV and telephone contacts (TC) in preventing early childhood caries (ECC) and colonisation of mutans streptococci (MS) and lactobacilli (LB) from 0 to 24 months. A total of 325 children were recruited from community health centres at mean age of 42 days, and randomly assigned to receive either HV or TC. A total of 188 children completed three, 6 monthly HV, and another 58 had three, 6 monthly TC. An additional 40 age-matched children from childcare facilities served as reference controls (RC). At 24 months, all groups were examined at a community dental clinic. At 24 months, three HV children of 188 (1.5%) had caries, compared to four TC of 58 (6.8%) and nine RC of 40 (22.5%) (P < 0.001 for HV versus RC; P = 0.05 for HV versus TC and P = 0.03 for TC versus RC). There were also more children with MS in the TC (47%) and RC (35%) compared to HV (28%) group (P = 0.01 and P = 0.02). Home visits and telephone contacts conducted 6 monthly from birth are effective in reducing ECC prevalence by 24 months.

Prevalence, severity and risk factors for development of early childhood caries

Introduction. Early childhood caries is a specific form of primary tooth decay, which occurs very early, progresses rapidly, affects a larger number of teeth and has manifold consequences. Its treatment is a very complex process, both for the children and the pedodontist, and it requires good co-operation with the parents. This study was aimed at examining the prevalence and severity of early childhood caries in the teeth of infants and pre-school children, and to analyze the potential risk factors causing early childhood caries. Material and Methods. The research was conducted as an analytic cross sectional study and it included 204 children in Kanjiža, of both genders, their age ranging from 13 to 71 months. Early childhood caries diagnostics was performed as a dental examination (with a probe and mirror), whereas information about social status, living conditions, views, habits, behavior and health awareness was obtained through questionnaires filled in by the parents. The significance of variance was tested by variant analysis and χ2 test. Results. The prevalence of early childhood caries in the study sample was 23.5%, being 28.7% in boys and 17.7% in girls. By analyzing the correlation between the age and type of early childhood caries, it can be said that children aged between 25 to 36 months were usually diagnosed with initial stage of early childhood caries, children aged between 37 to 48 months had intermediate stage of early childhood caries, and the older children had moderate stage of early childhood caries. Our insight into the partial contribution of early childhood caries predictors (the set of risk factors) suggests that only gender, time of birth, time of odontosis and the quality of drinking water have significant effects. Factors such as the age of the children, as well as the mothers' employment status and the health condition of their mouth and teeth have only marginal significance; hence, they should be taken into account tentatively. Conclusion. The high rate of early childhood caries in kindergartens in Kanjiža requires intensive preventive-prophylactic treatment of both children and their parents, as well as early diagnosis and therapy of early childhood caries.

Prevalence of early childhood caries in 8 - 48 month old preschool children of Bangalore city, South India

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a devastating form of dental decay having a multi - factorial origin. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of ECC in Bangalore city, South India, and also to study its associated risk factors. Random sample of 1500 children, aged between 8 - 48 months, was selected from play homes and nursing homes of various parts of the city. Dental caries was recorded according to World Health Organization criteria. Information regarding risk factors for caries was obtained through a structured questionnaire given to mothers or caretakers. The data was subjected to statistical analysis. The prevalence of ECC was 27.5% and the mean decayed, extracted and filled tooth index was 0.854. There was a strong association of ECC with the risk factors studied.