Prevalence of Untreated Early Childhood Caries of 5-Year-Old Children in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Study

Faith Miaomiao Zheng, Iliana Gehui Yan, Duangporn Duangthip, Sherry Shiqian Gao, Edward Chin Man Lo and Chun Hung Chu
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Faith Miaomiao Zheng: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Iliana Gehui Yan: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Duangporn Duangthip: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Sherry Shiqian Gao: Department of Stomatology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China
Edward Chin Man Lo: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
Chun Hung Chu: Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 22, 1-11

Abstract: This cross-sectional survey investigated untreated early childhood caries (ECC) and its associated factors among 5-year-old children in Hong Kong. Children were recruited using a multistage sampling method. One dentist examined the children in kindergarten to diagnose untreated ECC (dt) at the cavitation level. Each child’s demographic information, snacking behaviour, and oral health-related practice were collected using a parental questionnaire. The relationships between the untreated ECC and demographic information, snacking behaviours, and oral health-–related practice were analysed by zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression analysis. This survey recruited 404 children. Their dt score was 2.8 ± 3.8. The significant untreated ECC (SiUC) index, which was one-third of the children with the highest dt score, was 7.1 ± 3.6. Their untreated ECC prevalence was 57%, which was associated with the district the child lived in. Most children with untreated ECC (71%, 164/231) had never visited a dentist. Children who brushed without toothpaste had more untreated ECC. Children coming from low-income families and with a lower maternal education level had a higher risk of ECC. In conclusion, untreated ECC was prevalent and unevenly distributed among 5-year-old children in Hong Kong. Its prevalence was associated with toothpaste use, family income, maternal education level and the district they lived in.

Keywords: children; caries; prevention; kindergarten; outreach (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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