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Caries prevalence, severity, and pattern in preschool children

Amjad H Wyne1

  • 1Pediatric Dentistry at King Saud University College of Dentistry in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saludi Arabia. ahwyne@gmail.ocm

The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice
|March 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Dental caries is highly prevalent in Riyadh

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Dental caries poses a significant global health challenge, particularly in young children.
  • Understanding regional variations in caries is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence, severity, and pattern of dental caries in preschool children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  • To identify demographic and institutional factors associated with caries in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 789 preschool children (mean age 4.7 years) in Riyadh.
  • Caries assessment using World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria.
  • Data collection included demographic information and preschool type (government vs. private).

Main Results:

  • Overall caries prevalence was 74.8% with a mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) score of 6.1.
  • Caries prevalence and severity were significantly higher in children attending government preschools compared to private ones.
  • Mandibular second molars and maxillary central incisors showed the highest caries prevalence among posterior and anterior teeth, respectively.

Conclusions:

  • Dental caries is highly prevalent and severe among preschool children in Riyadh.
  • Posterior teeth are most commonly affected, with a high proportion of children experiencing both anterior and posterior tooth decay.
  • Preventive strategies like fissure sealants and topical fluoride are recommended for high-caries populations.
Abstract

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