Early childhood caries and risk factors in Jordan.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence of dental caries among Jordanian preschool children and risk factors for caries.


METHODS
Preschool children aged 1 to 5 years from randomly selected nurseries and kindergartens in Amman were surveyed in September 2001. A questionnaire to investigate factors that might have affected dental caries level was completed by parents. Dental caries was diagnosed as recommended by the World Health Organization.


RESULTS
The mean dmft scores at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years were 0.19, 1.15, 1.7, 2.13, and 3.22 respectively. Overall, 52% of children were caries-free. Caries level was significantly related to feeding practices, snacking habits, oral health practices and pattern of dental visiting as well as to socio-economic background, parents, education level and awareness.


CONCLUSIONS
The dental caries level was slightly higher than that of children in industrialised countries but lower than that of children in the neighbouring Arab countries. However, the early caries development seen in children from the lower socio-economic classes, because they are at high risk for caries in Jordan, reinforces the need for preventive programmes before eruption of the teeth. Access to dental care must be improved to enable any preventive strategies to be implemented.
Rajab
Lamis D
LD
The University of Jordan, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Amman, Jordan. lamisr@ju.edu.jo
Hamdan
Mahmoud A M
MA
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005248:Feeding Methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006267:Health Education, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires