Experience of early childhood caries [ECC] in children at Fatima Jinnah dental college hospital, Karachi and its relationship with feeding practices

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to find the experience of early childhood caries [ECC] in children at Fatima Jinnah dental college hospital, Karachi in the period of six months and its relationship with feeding practices. A total of 521 children 2- 6 years of age were screened for the present study who came to Fatima Jinnah dental college hospital Karachi in the period of Sept-Dec 2008 and June- July 2009. Examination and detection of the caries was solely based on visualization. A parent or a caregiver was asked to complete a questionnaire regarding information about the child, their oral hygiene, social class and feeding practices. The modification of Kuppuswami scale was used to classify the socioeconomic status. The rate and pattern of caries were analyzed and each child was classified as mild, moderate or severe ECC. There is a strong and significant relationship between the presence of early childhood caries and the degree of feeding abuse. Children from low socioeconomic status have increased early childhood caries. The experience of early childhood caries was 50.1% in the children attending dental opd of Fatima Jinnah Dental College Hospital in the period of six months. Early childhood caries were more in children who were always taking a feeding bottle especially to bed at night and those who consume cariogenic snacks and were increasingly seen in lower socioeconomic groups