Early childhood caries prevalence and associated risk factors among Saudi preschool children in Riyadh

Abstract

Aim To determine the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) and investigate the effect of associated risk factors on ECC prevalence in preschool children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study included Saudi preschoolers aged 36–71 months. Parents/guardians completed a structured, self-administered questionnaire assessing sociodemographics; medical, dental, and dietary history; and oral hygiene practices. Children were orally examined for dental caries, oral hygiene, and plaque deposition. Results A total of 383 children were examined. ECC prevalence was 72.6%, with a mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) score of 4.13 (±3.99) and a mean decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (dmfs) score of 7.0 (±9.1). Children from schools in northern Riyadh and those of fathers in professional jobs were less likely to have ECC [(OR: 0.203; 95% CI: 0.082–0.503)] and [(OR: 0.472; 95% CI: 0.256–0.871)], respectively. Children with a nocturnal feeding history and poor oral hygiene were more likely to have ECC [(OR: 2.281; 95% CI: 1.143–4.553)] and [(OR: 5.523; 95% CI: 2.269–13.441)], respectively. Conclusions The prevalence of ECC in preschool children in Riyadh is high and affected by parental socioeconomic factors, infant feeding practices, and children’s oral hygiene status.

Early Childhood Caries Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors in Monastir, Tunisia: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…In the present study, a statistically significant associations were reported between ECC prevalence, age of start tooth brushing, tooth brushing frequency and methods and parental supervision during the tooth brushing which was in accordance with numerous other studies carried out in different countries (11,20,22,24,25,30).…”

“…Results of the present study showed a statistically significant association between ECC and history of dental visits (P < 0.001) and children who visited a dentist during their infancy had a higher ECC prevalence. This is consistent with previous reports of an association between dentist visit and ECC in children (20,39). This might reflect the fact that most children see the dentist only for an existing dental problem and not for prevention or control, and that parents in Tunisia believe that children do not need to be taken to the dentist unless they have a dental problem or pain caused by a carious lesion (20).…”

“…However, in children who take water in their bottles, the prevalence of ECC was lower, which can be explained by the washing effect of the water or by the level of fluorides contained in the bottled water consumed by Tunisians. A same result was also reported in a study conducted by Al and Marshad et al in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (20).…”

“…According to some recent studies, the increasing tendency toward ECC may be associated with a rapid decline in the standard of living, a therapeutic approach in the resolution of the disease and certain demographic, psychosocial and behavioral characteristics specific to the region, which could modify the biological basis of the disease still insufficiently studied (19)(20)(21)(22).…”

“…Regarding breast tor bottle feeding factors, some studies have reported that nighttime (20), long periods of breastfeeding and bottle feeding after the age of 18 months (24) were risk factors of ECC, while other studies have reported that nighttime feeding (breast and bottle feeding) after 12 months of age increased the risk of developing dental caries (25).…”