Schroth Robert J, Moffatt Michael E K
Department of Dental Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Pediatr Dent. 2005 Mar-Apr;27(2):114-20.
Preschool oral health is often overlooked as an important aspect of childhood health and well-being. The purposes of this study were to: (1) determine the dental status of 3-year-old children in the community of Carman, Manitoba, Canada; and (2) identify the principal determinants of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in 2 consecutive years.
All children and mothers attending a preschool health screening fair were invited to participate. Study procedures included a retrospective interview with parents and dental examination of the child. Statistical analyses included ANOVA, chi-square, and multiple regression. A P value of <.05 denoted significance.
A total of 61 children participated (mean age=45.7+/-3.4 months). The prevalence of ECC was 44%, while the mean deft was 2+/-3.3. Increased caries activity and ECC were associated with lower maternal level of education (P<.01). Family size was associated with deft scores (P=.03) while the presence of debris was also associated with ECC (P<.05).
ECC prevalence among these 3-year-olds is less than exhibited among other Canadian preschool children. Factors associated with ECC included debris on the primary teeth and low maternal education. Factors most associated with increased caries activity included low maternal education and increased family size. In addition, parents were able to reliably assess their child's dental health status. Larger epidemiological studies of ECC are needed to better assess prevalence and risk factors. Such data may, therefore, assist in identifying those children at greatest risk for ECC. It may also help in the redirection of scarce resources to effective preventive oral health interventions, as these children have an increased caries burden along the continuum of childhood.
学前儿童口腔健康作为儿童健康和幸福的一个重要方面，常常被忽视。本研究的目的是：（1）确定加拿大曼尼托巴省卡曼社区3岁儿童的牙齿状况；（2）连续两年确定幼儿龋齿（ECC）的主要决定因素。
邀请所有参加学前健康筛查集市的儿童及其母亲参与。研究程序包括对家长进行回顾性访谈以及对儿童进行牙齿检查。统计分析包括方差分析、卡方检验和多元回归。P值<.05表示具有显著性。
共有61名儿童参与（平均年龄=45.7±3.4个月）。ECC的患病率为44%，而平均乳牙龋失补牙数为2±3.3。龋齿活动增加和ECC与母亲较低的教育水平相关（P<.01）。家庭规模与乳牙龋失补牙数得分相关（P=.03），而牙菌斑的存在也与ECC相关（P<.05）。
这些3岁儿童的ECC患病率低于其他加拿大学龄前儿童。与ECC相关的因素包括乳牙上的牙菌斑和母亲低教育水平。与龋齿活动增加最相关的因素包括母亲低教育水平和家庭规模增大。此外，家长能够可靠地评估其孩子的牙齿健康状况。需要开展更大规模的ECC流行病学研究，以更好地评估患病率和风险因素。因此，这些数据可能有助于识别那些患ECC风险最高的儿童。这也可能有助于将稀缺资源重新导向有效的预防性口腔健康干预措施，因为这些儿童在整个儿童期的龋齿负担都有所增加。
