study of dental caries and risk factors in preschool aged children

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this work is to investigate some risk factors associated with occurrence of dental caries in preschool aged children. All cases diagnosed as dental caries from those attended pediatric clinic and dentistry clinic at AI-Ameen Hospital at Al Taif city in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during 1998 were included in the study. For each case, a control matched for age and sex was chosen from patients attended to the same hospital for causes unrelated to dental caries. A questionnaire was completed by interview with the patient or his/her companion to collect the data concerning basic epidemiological data, personal habits and exposures. Majority of cases of dental caries occurred among females [70.4%]and [59.3%] have baby bottle tooth decay [BBTD].The peak of occurrence was observed in the age group [4-5 years].The risk of dental caries was thirteen times higher among cases of night bottle feeding [OR=13.48],five times among those with history of pregnancy complications [OR=5.93],four times in those with history of 3 times or more sweetened snacks between meals [OR=4.9] and two times in those with history of weaning after 14 months of age. Low social standard increased the risk of dental caries two and half times. After controlling confounders by using multivariate logistic regression low social class, night bottle feeding,3 times or more sweetened snacks between meals and weaning after 14 months of age remained significant risk factors [OR=2.13, 11.6, 3.35 and 1.18 respectively]. In conclusion, dental caries is a multifactorial disease. Night bottle feeding, pregnancy complications, 3 times or more sweetened snacks between meals and weaning after 14 months of age increase the risk of occurrence of dental caries