SOCIO-BEHAVIORAL DETERMINANTS FOR SEVERE EARLY CHILDHOOD CARIES (S-ECC)

Aim of the study The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of S-ECC in a group of preschool children from Romania and to evaluate the role of socio-behavioral factors in association with this condition. Material and methods 337 children aged between 3 and 5 years were included in this study after determining the sample size. This study was conducted as a questionnaire combined with a clinical examination which determined the DMFT index. After collecting the data from the questionnaire, the socio-behavioral factors were statistically analysed into determining which ones were associated with a high DMFT index. Results The prevalence of S-ECC in this group of preschool children was 31.80%. Some social and behavioral factors were significantly related to S-ECC and to a high DMFT index score such as bottle feeding (p=0.0001), frequently consumed sweet treats (p=0.0001), and irregular dentist visits (p=0.03). On the other hand, the type of toothbrush used (p=0.30), frequency of toothbrushing (p=0.68), and the usage of fluoride toothpaste (p=0.59) were not statistically associated with S-ECC. Conclusions The prevalence of S-ECC among Romanian preschool children is high, and its development and progression are strongly associated with different oral hygiene practices, dietary habits and preventive measures.