BACKGROUND: Singapore is unique in that it is a 100% urban community with majority of the population living in a homogeneous physical environment. She, however, has diverse ethnicities and cultures as such; there may be caries risk factors that are unique to this population. AIM: The aims were to assess the oral health of preschool children and to identify the associated caries risk factors. DESIGN: An oral examination and a questionnaire were completed for each consenting child-parent pair. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety children (mean age: 36.3 ± 6.9 months) were recruited from six community medical clinics. Ninety-two children (48.4%) were caries active. The mean d123 t and d123 s scores were 2.2 ± 3.3 and 3.0 ± 5.6, respectively. Higher plaque scores were significantly (P < 0.0005) associated with all measures of decay (presence of decay, dt, ds). The risk factors for severity of decay (i.e., dt and ds) include child's age, breastfeeding duration, and parents' ability to withhold cariogenic snacks from their child. CONCLUSIONS: The high caries rate suggests that current preventive methods to reduce caries in Singapore may have reached their maximum effectiveness, and other risk factors such as child's race, and dietary and breastfeeding habits need to be addressed.
BACKGROUND: Singapore is unique in that it is a 100% urban community with majority of the population living in a homogeneous physical environment. She, however, has diverse ethnicities and cultures as such; there may be caries risk factors that are unique to this population. AIM: The aims were to assess the oral health of preschool children and to identify the associated caries risk factors. DESIGN: An oral examination and a questionnaire were completed for each consenting child-parent pair. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety children (mean age: 36.3 ± 6.9 months) were recruited from six community medical clinics. Ninety-two children (48.4%) were caries active. The mean d123 t and d123 s scores were 2.2 ± 3.3 and 3.0 ± 5.6, respectively. Higher plaque scores were significantly (P < 0.0005) associated with all measures of decay (presence of decay, dt, ds). The risk factors for severity of decay (i.e., dt and ds) include child's age, breastfeeding duration, and parents' ability to withhold cariogenic snacks from their child. CONCLUSIONS: The high caries rate suggests that current preventive methods to reduce caries in Singapore may have reached their maximum effectiveness, and other risk factors such as child's race, and dietary and breastfeeding habits need to be addressed.
Authors: Mark Gussy; Rosie Ashbolt; Lauren Carpenter; Monica Virgo-Milton; Hanny Calache; Stuart Dashper; Pamela Leong; Andrea de Silva; Alysha de Livera; Julie Simpson; Elizabeth Waters Journal: Int J Paediatr Dent Date: 2015-05-13 Impact factor: 3.455