Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in Southern Italy: An Epidemiological Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and oral habits among preschool children from a southern Italian cohort. The survey population consisted of 300 subjects randomly selected among children attending two kindergartens in Catania, Italy. The prevalence of ECC and oral habits were clinically evaluated. During the clinical evaluation, the oral hygiene of children was also assessed. Parents were also interviewed using a brief and simple online questionnaire aimed at investigating eating and oral hygiene habits. The selected sample age ranged between 3 and 5 years. The prevalence of ECC was 9.34%, and the most affected teeth were primary molars. Moreover, the prevalence of oral habits was 44.66%. Only two-thirds of the sample brush their teeth at least once per day. The prevalence of ECC among Sicilian children (9.33%) seems suitable with the rest of the country. The results of the present study evidenced that oral habits showed a high prevalence among preschool children. The level of oral hygiene among preschool children is still not sufficient.

The Application of a Fluoride-and-Vitamin D Solution to Deciduous Teeth Promotes Formation of Persistent Mineral Crystals: A Morphological Ex-Vivo Study

“…Prevention strategies should be applied to reduce risk factors related to the onset and further development of dental caries, mainly in the early phase of childhood [19]. The preschool period occurs at a time in which deleterious oral habits, caries patterns, and risk factors are established, reporting a prevalence of around 30-80% [20].…”

Caries Severity, Decayed First Permanent Molars and Associated Factors in 6–7 Years Old Schoolchildren Living in Palermo (Southern Italy)

“…In Italy, few epidemiological surveys have been conducted on the prevalence of caries, and these generally showed a marked decrease in caries prevalence over time [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. However, to date, there are very few studies on the oral health of children living in Southern Italy and, particularly, in Sicily [ 5 , 6 ]. Sicily might be considered a cluster, as the region has peculiar socio-economic features (low socio-economic indicators at individual levels, as well as negative macroeconomic indicators).…”