Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries and Associated Risk Factors in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra: A Cross-sectional Descriptive Study

Abstract

Aim: To determine the prevalence of and associated risk factors for of early childhood caries (ECC) in 3-6-year-old preschool children in Navi Mumbai. Materials and methods: A total of 588 preschool children aged 3-6 years were selected randomly from the schools of Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. Caries was recorded according to the World Health Organization (WHO) recording criteria 1997. Information regarding socio-demographic data, feeding habits, and oral hygiene practices was obtained through a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square test. Statistical analysis used: Chi-square test. Results: The prevalence of early childhood caries in 3-6-year-old children was found to be 66.5%. ECC increased significantly with age and is higher in boys as compared to girls. This difference was not statically significant. Children belonging to the low socioeconomic group showed higher caries prevalence. ECC was more prevalent in children accustomed to prolonged breastfeeding, bottle feeding, or breastfeeding at night. Factors, such as increased frequency of toothbrushing, use of toothbrushes, and fluoridated dentifrice, were found to be the protective factors against the risk of ECC. Conclusion: A strong correlation between the risk factors studied and ECC was found. Clinical significance: Even though ECC is largely a preventable condition, it remains one of the most common conditions, and the following research helps the clinician to understand the current prevalence and factors that are associated with ECC. This will in turn help in the early diagnosis of the ECC in everyday practice.