ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate influencing factors of dental caries among 3 to 5-year-old children in the Yuhua District of Changsha by Cariostat detection and provide evidence to prevent caries.Methods:1 032 children aged 3-5 years old from 6 kindergartens in Yuhua District of Changsha were randomly selected for oral health examination. 565 children in 6 large classes, 6 middle classes and 6 small classes were randomly selected from 6 kindergartens were perfected caries activity test (CAT) by Cariostat detection.Results:Among 1 032 children, 626 had caries, the caries rate was 60.66%, the caries was 2.87±3.67, and the caries filling rate was 8.53%. The caries rate of maxillary central incisors was the highest (37.89%), followed by mandibular second primary molars (32.56%) and mandibular first primary molars (32.36%). There was significant difference in caries rate among different age groups (χ 2=9.231, P<0.05). The caries rate of 5-year-old children was the highest (66.50%). 1 032 children were divided into 4 groups according to dmft (decayed, missing, filled teeth) value, and the number of caries free group was the largest; the number of caries in the middle caries group was the least. The number of missing teeth in 1 032 children with caries was 2 959. The number of missing teeth in the high caries group was the most, up to 1 861, accounting for 61.89% of the total number of missing teeth. The analysis of 565 children by CAT showed that the caries rate was different in different CAT grades (χ 2=27.390, P<0.05). The caries rate in the high-risk group was the highest, 90.48%. The CAT value was positively correlated with caries ( r=0.261, P<0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of dental caries in children aged 3-5 years in Yuhua District of Changsha was 60.66%. Cariostat method can truly reflect the situation of caries in children and is helpful to screen the population susceptible to caries in children.