Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Volume 18, Issue 22, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182211934
Keywords
children; caries; prevention; kindergarten; outreach
Funding
- General Research Fund of the Hong Kong Research Grant Council [17100019]
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The study revealed that untreated early childhood caries (ECC) was prevalent among 5-year-old children in Hong Kong, and its prevalence was associated with toothpaste use, family income, maternal education level, and the district the child lived in.
This cross-sectional survey investigated untreated early childhood caries (ECC) and its associated factors among 5-year-old children in Hong Kong. Children were recruited using a multistage sampling method. One dentist examined the children in kindergarten to diagnose untreated ECC (dt) at the cavitation level. Each child's demographic information, snacking behaviour, and oral health-related practice were collected using a parental questionnaire. The relationships between the untreated ECC and demographic information, snacking behaviours, and oral health--related practice were analysed by zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression analysis. This survey recruited 404 children. Their dt score was 2.8 & PLUSMN; 3.8. The significant untreated ECC (SiUC) index, which was one-third of the children with the highest dt score, was 7.1 & PLUSMN; 3.6. Their untreated ECC prevalence was 57%, which was associated with the district the child lived in. Most children with untreated ECC (71%, 164/231) had never visited a dentist. Children who brushed without toothpaste had more untreated ECC. Children coming from low-income families and with a lower maternal education level had a higher risk of ECC. In conclusion, untreated ECC was prevalent and unevenly distributed among 5-year-old children in Hong Kong. Its prevalence was associated with toothpaste use, family income, maternal education level and the district they lived in.
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