BMC Oral Health. 2013 Jul 9;13:30. doi: 10.1186/1472-6831-13-30.
Early childhood caries (ECC) is a public health problem due to its impact on children's health, development and well being. Little is known about early childhood oral health in the West Indies or the influence of social and behavioural factors on the prevalence and severity of early childhood caries in this preschool population. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence and severity of ECC in preschool children in a region of central Trinidad and to explore its relationship with social and behavioural factors.
A cross-sectional survey was undertaken on children aged 3-5 years-old from a random sample of preschools in central Trinidad. Oral health examinations were conducted for children for whom parental consent was given, using WHO criteria (visual diagnosis / cavitation at d3). A self-reported questionnaire was distributed to all parents and caregivers. Variables included socio-demographics, oral health knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, visible caries experience and treatment need.
251 children were examined, 50.2% were male with a mean age of 3.7 years (SD 0.67) and 71% were of Indian ethnicity. The prevalence of ECC was 29.1% and the prevalence of severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) was 17.5%. 29.9% of children had some treatment need, with 12% in need of urgent care or referral. Poisson generalized linear mixed model analysis found a higher rate of visible caries experience for children who ate sweet snacks more than twice a day (p < 0.001), had poorer parental dental health ratings (p < 0.0001), a previous dental visit (p < 0.0001) and difficulty finding dental care (p < 0.001).
The prevalence and severity of ECC in central Trinidad was related to oral health behaviours and access to dental care. Oral health promotion should include more supportive and practical advice for parents and caregivers of preschool children along with improved access to dental care to enable primary prevention and management of ECC.
幼儿龋病（ECC）是一个公共卫生问题，因为它会影响儿童的健康、发育和幸福感。对于西印度群岛的幼儿口腔健康，以及社会和行为因素对学龄前儿童中幼儿龋病的流行和严重程度的影响，我们知之甚少。本研究的目的是描述特立尼达中部地区学龄前儿童 ECC 的流行程度和严重程度，并探讨其与社会和行为因素的关系。
在特立尼达中部的一个随机样本的幼儿园中，对 3-5 岁的儿童进行了横断面调查。对于获得父母同意的儿童，使用世卫组织标准（视觉诊断/ d3 处的空洞）进行口腔健康检查。向所有家长和照顾者发放了一份自我报告问卷。变量包括社会人口统计学、口腔健康知识、态度和行为、可见龋齿经历和治疗需求。
共检查了 251 名儿童，其中 50.2%为男性，平均年龄为 3.7 岁（标准差 0.67），71%为印度裔。ECC 的患病率为 29.1%，严重幼儿龋病（S-ECC）的患病率为 17.5%。29.9%的儿童有一些治疗需求，其中 12%需要紧急护理或转诊。泊松广义线性混合模型分析发现，每天吃两次以上甜食的儿童，其可见龋齿发生率更高（p<0.001），父母的口腔健康评分较差（p<0.0001），之前有过看牙经历（p<0.0001）和难以找到牙医（p<0.001）。
特立尼达中部地区 ECC 的流行程度和严重程度与口腔健康行为和获得牙科保健有关。口腔健康促进应包括为学龄前儿童的父母和照顾者提供更具支持性和实用性的建议，以及改善获得牙科保健的机会，以实现 ECC 的初级预防和管理。
