Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China.
Department of Stomatology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Nov 13;18(22):11934. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182211934.
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 ± 3.8. The significant untreated ECC (SiUC) index, which was one-third of the children with the highest dt score, was 7.1 ± 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.
本横断面调查研究了香港 5 岁儿童未经治疗的早期儿童龋（ECC）及其相关因素。采用多阶段抽样方法招募儿童。一名牙医在幼儿园检查儿童，以在龋腔水平诊断未经治疗的 ECC（dt）。使用家长问卷收集每个儿童的人口统计学信息、零食行为和口腔健康相关行为。使用零膨胀负二项（ZINB）回归分析分析未经治疗的 ECC 与人口统计学信息、零食行为和口腔健康相关行为之间的关系。该调查共招募了 404 名儿童。他们的 dt 评分为 2.8 ± 3.8。三分之一儿童中 dt 评分最高的儿童的显著未治疗 ECC（SiUC）指数为 7.1 ± 3.6。未经治疗的 ECC 患病率为 57%，与儿童居住的地区有关。大多数未经治疗的 ECC 儿童（71%，164/231）从未看过牙医。不使用牙膏刷牙的儿童有更多未经治疗的 ECC。来自低收入家庭和母亲教育程度较低的儿童患 ECC 的风险更高。总之，未经治疗的 ECC 在香港 5 岁儿童中普遍存在且分布不均。其患病率与牙膏使用、家庭收入、母亲教育水平和居住地有关。
