Dental Caries Polarization In 3-5-Year-Olds (Beijing, 2023)

This study analyzed the polarization of dental caries among 3-5-year-old children in Beijing and identified associated risk indicators. A total of 1,393 children from five urban kindergartens in Beijing were selected using cluster sampling. They were categorized into three groups: caries-free, low caries (0 < dmft < 4), and high caries (dmft ≥ 4). Descriptive statistics and Lorenz curves were used to assess caries distribution, while multinomial logistic regression analyzed risk indicators. Caries prevalence was 59.15%, with a mean dmft of 3.29 ± 4.02, a Significant Caries Index (SiC) of 8.12 ± 3.23, and a Gini coefficient of 0.6305. Key risk factors included maternal oral hygiene and dental health, children's general health, and dietary habits. Notably, higher caries risk was associated with mothers not using dental floss (OR = 1.61), mothers with caries (OR = 1.73), children with poor general health (OR = 2.05), breastfeeding (OR = 2.37), prolonged bottle use (OR = 1.67), and daily sugary food/drink consumption (OR = 1.95). Dental caries in Beijing's 3-5-year-old children remains highly prevalent and polarized. Maternal oral hygiene behaviors and status, children's general health, and dietary habits are closely associated with the polarization of dental caries within this population.