Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2025
Evaluation of the Cognitive Performance of Hypertensive Patients with Silent Cerebrovascular Lesions
Published on: April 23, 2021
Caries Incidence and Its Associated Factors in Hong Kong Kindergarten Children
Ivy Guofang Sun1, Duangporn Duangthip1, Iliana Gehui Yan1
1Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SRA.
Insights
A third of Hong Kong kindergarten children developed new cavities. Low family income, prior tooth decay, and poor oral hygiene are key factors. Preventive strategies are crucial for this age group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood caries is a significant public health issue.
- Understanding caries incidence and risk factors in early childhood is crucial for effective prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of dental caries and identify associated factors in Hong Kong kindergarten children.
- To analyze the progression of caries over a 30-month period.
Main Methods:
- A 30-month prospective study involving 3- to 4-year-old children.
- Data collection included parental questionnaires on demographics and oral health habits, and clinical examinations using decayed, missing, and filled tooth (dmft) and visible plaque index (VPI).
- Zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression was used for data analysis.
Main Results:
- Caries prevalence increased from 23% at baseline to 41% at follow-up.
- The 30-month caries incidence rate was 34%, with an average of 0.9 new carious teeth per child.
- Significant associations were found between caries incidence and lower family income, baseline dmft, and baseline VPI.
Conclusions:
- Approximately one-third of kindergarten children in Hong Kong developed new caries.
- Low family income, previous caries experience, and poor oral hygiene are significant predictors of caries incidence.
- Targeted preventive interventions, including oral health education and improved hygiene practices, are essential for high-risk children.
Objective:
The study aimed to investigate caries incidence and its associate factors among kindergarten children in Hong Kong.
Method:
This 30-month prospective study recruited 3- to 4-year-old children when they started their kindergarten study. A self-administered parental questionnaire survey was used to collect the children's social demographic information and their oral health-related habits. Child's caries experience was recorded using the decayed, missing, and filled tooth (dmft) index and the visible plaque index (VPI) was used to measure their oral hygiene status. A final examination was performed after 30 months when they were in the final year of kindergarten. Data were analysed using the zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression model.
Results:
This study examined 660 children at baseline and 501 children at the final examination (dropout 24%). At baseline, the caries prevalence among 501 children was 23%, with mean (SD) dmft scores of 0.7 (1.8). At the final examination, caries prevalence increased to 41%, with mean (SD) dmft scores of 1.6 (2.8). The 30-month incidence rate was 34%, and the mean (SD) number of new carious teeth developed was 0.9 (1.7). Lower first molars exhibited the highest caries increment rate (11%), followed by upper second molars (9%) and upper central incisors (9%). ZINB regression analysis revealed associations among caries incidence and family income, baseline dmft, and baseline VPI (P < .05).
Conclusions:
One third of Hong Kong kindergarten children developed new caries. Low family income, prior caries experience and poor oral hygiene were the significant factors associated with their caries incidence.
Clinical Relevance:
Many children developed new caries during their kindergarten years, with their caries experience more than doubling. Preventive measures, including oral health education and reinforcing oral hygiene practice in kindergarten, are essential to reduce their caries incidence, particularly for children with low family income, caries experience and poor oral hygiene.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Causality in Epidemiology
01:15Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
01:21Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...
02:01Factorial Design
02:59Cancer Prevention
Some...