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. 2019 Jan 10;19(1):9.
doi: 10.1186/s12903-018-0698-9.

Dental caries and associated factors in 3 to 5-year-old children in Zhejiang Province, China: an epidemiological survey

Na Zhou  1 , Haihua Zhu  2 , Yadong Chen  2 , Wen Jiang  2 , Xiaolong Lin  2 , Yan Tu  2 , Dingwan Chen  3 , Hui Chen  2
Affiliations

Dental caries and associated factors in 3 to 5-year-old children in Zhejiang Province, China: an epidemiological survey

Na Zhou et al. BMC Oral Health. .

Abstract

Background: Dental caries in preschool children is prevalent worldwide, but data regarding its magnitude and associated factors were not available for preschool children in Zhejiang Province, China. This study examines the dental caries situation and its associated factors in Zhejiang Province.

Methods: A total of 1591 children aged 3-5 years and their parents or caregivers were enrolled in this study. The condition of their teeth was assessed by three dental technicians qualified to WHO 2013 criteria. A structured questionnaire was completed by the children's parents or caregivers. A logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors that may be associated with dental caries occurring among preschool children.

Results: Caries prevalence (dmft> 0) of 3-5 year old children in Zhejiang Province was 70.4%. The mean decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) scores of the 3, 4 or 5 year old children surveyed were 2.96 ± 4.07, 4.42 ± 4.66, and 5.75 ± 5.19 respectively. The negative binomial regression model found that higher dental caries prevalence was found in children as age increased, with lower body mass index (BMI), with longer breastfeeding duration and with fewer hours of sleep.

Conclusions: The dental caries prevalence and dmft score of 3-5-year-old children in Zhejiang Province was high, and it was associated with age, BMI, breastfeeding duration and hours slept.

Keywords: Body mass index; Breastfeeding duration; Early child caries; Epidemiology; Risk factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Chinese Stomatological Association (NO.2014–003). Written informed consent was obtained from parents or guardians for minors to participate in this study.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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