Risk Factors For Dental Caries In3-year-old And6-year-old Children In Shanghai With The Preventive Strategies Research

Dental caries, as one of the most common oral diseases among children in china, not only affects children’s physical and mental development, but also impacts children’s daily performance. Furthermore, dental caries also increases the disease burden on children’s family. Therefore, it is of great importance to pay attention to children’s oral health.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to investigate the oral health status and oral health related behaviors among3-year-old and6-year-old children in Shanghai and to identify risk factors that may associated with dental caries status among children. These findings may help to make reference for generation of related strategies on prevention of dental caries in children.Material and MethodsSix kindergartens for3-year-old children and six primary schools for6-year-old children from six urban and six rural districts in Shanghai were selected using a three level stratified random sampling method. Dental caries status was assessed by dentist according to the WHO criteria. Information on the child’s demographic background and oral health related behaviors was also collected through a questionnaire completed by the parents. SPSS software was used for data analysis. Multiple factor analysis was performed to investigate the risk factors which may affect children’s dental caries status (dmft score) in two age groups.Results1. Dental caries statusa) The prevalence of dental caries experience among452children aged3years was39.8%, with the significant difference between urban and rural (53.9%vs.25.4%).69.3%of610children aged6years had dental caries experience in their primary dentition. A significantly higher proportion of rural children had dental caries compared with urban children (80.3%vs.58.7%). Gender difference was not found among these two age groups.b) The mean dmft score of3-year-old children was1.63(rural:2.44, urban:0.80) with untreated teeth accounting for96.9%of dental caries experience, which among6-year-old children was3.56(rural:4.79, urban:2.67) with untreated teeth accounting for84.3%of dental caries experience.c) The children aged3years with2decay experience teeth occupied the largest proportion (22.8%) and the same for6-year-old children with1decay experience teeth (12.1%).d) The most suffered primary teeth with dental caries were the left and right maxillary incisors (22.8%and21.2%) among3-year-old children, which among children aged6years were the left and right mandibular molar (53.8%and50.2%).2. Relationships between mean dmft score and oral health related behaviors among two age group (results of multiple factor AN OVA)a) The children aged3years who lived in rural district, used nursing bottle, in take snack more frequently, and utilized dental service during past one year had significantly higher dmft scores.b) The children aged6years who lived in rural district, had lower parental years of education, intake carbonated drinks more frequently and utilized dental service during past one year had significantly higher dmft scores.Conclusions1. The prevalence of dental caries among children aged3and6years in shanghai was relatively higher compared with other region in china and industrialized countries.2. Proportion of the filled teeth among dental caries experience in Shanghai was higher than most other regions in china. However, a wide gap still existed when compared with developed countries.3. Approximately one third of children suffered80%of dental caries experience.4. The children who lived in rural district, had lower parental years of education, used nursing bottle and intake snack more frequently suffered more dental caries experience. 5. Children’s parents generally neglect oral health problem of theirs children.Recommendations1. Strategies for high risk populationa) To establish oral health electronic record system for children;b) To insurance oral health of children who lived in rural areas;c) To provide more public dental service for younger children.2. Preventive strategies for oral health care in schoola) To training the health teacher routinely;b) To delivery oral health presentation to teacher and principle routinely;c) To manage food with sugar carefully in school.3. Preventive strategies for familya) To carry out different oral health promotion to parents with different age groups;b) To pay more attention to oral health problem of children and develop habit of regular dental checkup;c) To collaborate multi-sectorial to strength oral health management and service for children.