The prevalence of dental caries and associated risk factors in Chinese children aged 7-9 years

Abstract

Abstract Background Dental caries is the most common oral health problem in school-age children caused by the interaction of microorganisms, substrates and teeth over time. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, severity, oral distribution, and associated risk factors of deciduous tooth caries in children aged 7–9 years in Jinzhou, China. Methods A total of 1,603 primary school students aged 7–9 years old from public and private schools in Jinzhou were recruited using multi-stage, stratified, and random sampling methods for cross-sectional studies. Deciduous teeth caries in school-age children were detected and recorded according to the World Health Organization standard, and a questionnaire was collected from a parent or guardian with information on the relevant risk factors for the child. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of caries-related factors were estimated using binary logistic regression analysis. Results The prevalence of deciduous tooth caries was 74.5%, the average caries was 3.02,and dmft was 4.08 ± 2.74.There were 655 cases (77.1%) of caries in boys and 539 cases (71.6%) in girls, and the difference between them has statistical significance (P < 0.05). Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that the mother's education level, flossing, reason for last dental visit, and consumption of desserts, sweets, and soft drinks were associated with the prevalence of dental caries. Conclusions Deciduous teeth have a high incidence of dental caries in children aged 7–9 years, especially mandibular deciduous molars are the most common. Social demographic factors, socioeconomic status factors, oral hygiene habits, and dietary habits all play an important role in the occurrence of dental caries.