Dental caries experience of preschool children from different ethnic groups in Guangxi Province in China.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the caries status and oral health-related behaviors of three- to five-year-old Chinese children by their ethnic background, and to identify potential determinants of caries experience.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in a multi-ethnic province (Guangxi) in Southern China. Representative samples of preschool children from two ethnic groups (Han and an ethnic minority Zhuang: 487 Han and 470 Zhuang children) were examined using decayed, missing, filled teeth/surface (dmft/dmfs) indices. The children's general information as well as their personal oral hygiene practices and dietary habits were collected based on a structured questionnaire.


RESULTS
Overall, 60% of children had caries with a mean dmft value of 3.01. Zhuang children had a significantly higher prevalence of rampant caries (13% vs. 9%), mean dmft (3.36 vs. 2.66) and mean dmfs (5.10 vs. 3.76) than the Han children. Decayed teeth/surfaces dominated the dmft/dmfs indices for both Han and Zhuang children. Multiple regression analysis showed that ethnicity and drinking fruit juice from feeding bottles during babyhood were significantly related to dmft.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a higher level of caries experience in the Zhuang ethnic minority than in Han preschool children.
Zeng
Xiaojuan
X
Department of Preventive Dentistry, Guangxi Medical University, Nenning, Guangxi, China.
Luo
Yan
Y
Du
Minquan
M
Bedi
Raman
R
D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology; D004037:Diet, Cariogenic; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D019422:Dietary Sucrose