Combination of low parental educational attainment and high parental income related to high caries experience in pre-school children in Abu Dhabi.

Children aged 2, 4 and 5 years were examined for dental caries using WHO criteria, in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE, in 1996. The children were from the three administrative regions of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Western Region. Sampling of health centres and kindergartens was stratified by urban or rural location. Parents completed a questionnaire, and children were classified into high, middle or low groups on the basis of their parents' education and income. All 20 kindergartens and 22 health centres sampled agreed to participate. The participation rate of sampled children was high and complete data were available for 640 children--217 aged 2 years, 204 aged 4 years, and 219 aged 5 years. Similar numbers of boys and girls were included. The prevalence of dental caries was very high--36% to 47% at age 2 years, 71% to 86% at age 4 years and 82% to 94% at age 5 years. The mean dmft at age 5 years was 8.4 in Abu Dhabi, 8.6 in Al Ain and 5.7 in Western Region. Few teeth had been filled. Apart from age, the parents' education and income were found to be statistically significantly related to caries experience (P<0.05), while gender, ethnicity (UAE or non-UAE), region, and urban or rural living, were not related to dental caries experience (P>0.3). While high parental educational attainment was related to lower caries experience, conversely, high parental income was related to higher caries experience. Caries experience was higher than that recorded approximately 6 years previously and is a cause of concern.