Regular dental checkup and snack-soda drink consumption of preschool children are associated with early childhood caries in Korean caregiver/preschool children dyads.
OBJECTIVE
Early childhood caries (ECC) is a common oral disease among young Korean children. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of ECC with preschool children's oral health behavior and caregivers' oral health in Ulsan, Korea.


METHODS
In 2006, cross-sectional survey of 1214 children under 6 years old and their care givers were surveyed. Two dentists examined according to the WHO criteria. Outcome variable was ECC, and explanatory variables were preschool children's oral health behavior and caregivers' oral health. The chi-square test and multiple log-binomial regression models were performed.


RESULTS
The prevalence of simple ECC was 47.5% and that of severe ECC was 34.8%. In bivariate analysis, ECC prevalence was increased according to children's age, caregiver's age, and type of housing. In multiple log-binomial regression models, preschool children's irregular oral checkup [prevalence ratio (PR): 1.7 for simple ECC and 1.8 for severe ECC] and frequent snack and soda drinking (PR: 1.2 for simple ECC, and 1.6 for severe ECC) were significant factors.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that the prevalence of ECC was high among Korean children. Early intervention programs for preschool children's oral health behavior should be developed based on the risk factors identified in this study.
Department of Preventive and Social Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea; Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Dong-Hun
DH
Han
Dong-Hyun
DH
Kim
Min-Ji
MJ
Kim
Jin-Bom
JB
Kim
Kyunghee
K
Jung-Choi
Kwang-Hak
KH
Bae
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010290:Parents; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D062410:Snacks; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
caries; dental health promotion; early childhood caries; prevention