Prevalence Of Dental Caries Among Preschool Children In Beijing

In view of the increasing trend of caries prevalence among children aged 3–5 years nationwide, analyzing the caries status and evaluating the trends in Beijing from 2013 to 2023 is of significant importance. In 2011, the Beijing Municipal Government initiated the Fluoride Foam Project, providing biannual fluoride treatments and annual oral exams for children aged 3–6. The objective of the oral examination is to facilitate the early detection and treatment of dental caries while adhering to a standardized protocol.Parents provided informed consent before participation, ensuring legal compliance. Ethical approval was not required under Chinese law. This study analyzed data from 11 oral exams (2013–2023) using prevalence of dental caries as the assessment metric. The sample size each year exceeded 300,000 except for 2020.Statistical analyses were conducted with SPSS 27.0, employing chi-square tests (α = 0.05). The prevalence of dental caries among 3- to 5-year-old children in Beijing showed a gradual downward trend from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, the caries prevalence was 34.76%, 45.52%, and 55.65% for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds, respectively, compared to 40.3%, 52.2%, and 60.3% in 2013 (P < 0.001). Regional disparities were observed across Beijing's districts. Over the past 11 years, the prevalence of dental caries among 3- to 5-year-olds in Beijing has generally decreased. However, ongoing efforts are needed to address remaining issues, promote public health, and reduce district disparities.