ABSTRACT
Objective: To describe the Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in Indonesian preschool children based on biopsychosocial risk factors. Material and Methods: This research is an analytic observational with a cross sectional design toward 506 preschool children aged 2-6 years at East Luwu Regency, Indonesia. The biopsychosocial data studied were gender, ethnicity, personal hygiene, child psychology, age, nutritional status, and dental and oral health behavior. These data were obtained through a questionnaire and clinical examination (nutritional status). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed. The statistical tests were performed at the significance level of 0.05. Results: Characteristics of respondents based on parents' origin, found that the majority of respondents were parents from Bugis tribes (68.4%) with ECC frequency of 72.2%. Regarding the visit to the dentist, 12.6% were afraid of the dentist, with ECC frequency of 71.9%. Most children had normal nutritional status (67%) with ECC frequency of 69.3%. Biopsychosocial factors, which significantly affect the Early Childhood Caries, were parents' tribe (p=0.022) and age (p=0.011). There was an association between ECC with brushing teeth before going to bed (p=0.049), use of mouthwash (p=0.002) and consumption of snacks (p<0.001). Conclusion: Biopsychosocial factor indicators are affect the Early Childhood Caries towards Indonesian preschool children.