Caries indicators in relation to healthcare access and hygienic‐dietary habits in Spanish preschoolers

Abstract

IntroductionDental caries continues to be a public healthcare problem due to its high prevalence and morbidity. It was proposed to evaluate caries indicators in relation to healthcare access and hygienic‐dietary habits in Spanish preschoolers.Materials and MethodsA cross‐sectional study was carried out on a random sample consisting of 343 patients ranging from 3 to 5 years of age in the primary care setting, the main measurements were: dental care access, hygienic‐dietary habits, and caries registration according to WHO criteria.ResultsThe prevalence of caries was 35.3% and mean ± standard deviation (SD) dft was 1.51 ± 2.93. Preschoolers who had ever visited the dentist had a higher dft occurrence than those who had never attended the dentist. The lower prevalence of caries was significantly associated with the frequency of two daily brushings versus non‐daily brushing (p = 0.007; 25.3% vs. 47.1%) and was 10.7% lower in patients who had the habit of night brushing (p = 0.041). The consumption of sugary liquids between meals implied a higher dft index.ConclusionsThe high prevalence of early childhood caries and the dental care access associated with poor oral health suggest the need to implement a multidisciplinary oral healthcare program that involves both healthcare and dental healthcare professionals in Primary Health Care Units without forgetting the participation of the community and local administrations.