The prevalence of dental caries among Egyptian children and adolescences and its association with age, socioeconomic status, dietary habits and other risk factors. A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Dental caries is a chronic, multifactorial disease, with limited data available for the Egyptian population. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of dental caries among Egyptian children and adolescents in correlation with age, gender, body mass index, socioeconomic status, parental education, biological risk factors and dietary habits. Methods: A total number of 369 Egyptian children and adolescents (age ranges from 3-18 years) were examined over the period from 15th November 2017 to 13th January 2018. Socio-demographic data, oral hygiene measures and dietary habits for children were recorded. Dental status was analyzed using decayed, missing and filled tooth index (dmft) for deciduous dentition and (DMFT) index for permanent dentition. For mixed dentition (deft) index was used, d (decayed tooth indicated for filling), e (decayed tooth indicated for extraction) and f (filled tooth). Results: 74% of the children had dental caries with mean dmft: 3.23±4.07; deft: 4.21±3.21; DMFT: 1.04±1.56. In primary dentition, dmft of the children was positively correlated with age, beans, candies, crackers, chocolates and inversely correlated with gender, socio-economic status (SES), parental education, brushing frequency of the parent, brushing frequency of the parent to the child teeth, brushing frequency of the child and consumption of eggs, fruits/vegetables, milk and milk products. In mixed dentition, deft was positively correlated with candies, crackers, citric juices, while negatively correlated with age, SES, parental education, brushing frequency of the parent to the child, brushing frequency of the child, fruits/vegetables. In permanent dentition, DMFT in children was positively correlated with age and chocolates while not correlated with any of the remaining risk factors. Conclusion: The present study clarifies the significant risk factors associated with dental caries amongst Egyptian children. This will help in planning strategies to prevent and treat such disease.

Untreated dental caries prevalence and impact on the quality of life among 11 to14-year-old Egyptian schoolchildren: a cross-sectional study

“…This difference might be attributed to the higher commitment of girls toward oral hygiene habits like tooth brushing than boys. This finding was in agreement with prior studies [1,20]. The River Nile is the main source of water in the Egypt.…”

“…Children aged from 11 to 14 years should fulfill the following criteria; (1) No orthodontic treatment or malocclusion or severe gingival or periodontal diseases. (2) Absence of any systemic, emotional or intellectual disabilities.…”

“…Dental caries is one of the global health issues in both industrialized and developing communities. However, dental caries incidence and prevalence is more pronounced in developing countries like Egypt [1,2]. Dental caries is an age-related disease involving about 60-90% of schoolchildren [1,3].…”

“…However, dental caries incidence and prevalence is more pronounced in developing countries like Egypt [1,2]. Dental caries is an age-related disease involving about 60-90% of schoolchildren [1,3]. Caries is an outcome of several interplaying factors such as cultural, social, and political factors, which in turn rule the individual behaviors and commitment to preventive oral hygiene measures [4].…”

“…OHRQoL has a multidimensional structure to measure different aspects of oral health in a subjective way including oral symptoms, functional limitations, emotional and functional wellbeing [10]. Caries prevalence among Egyptian inhabitance is high [1]. The number of investigations conducted in Egypt especially among the early adolescents age group is limited.…”