Early childhood caries among 3‐ to 5‐year‐old children in Hong Kong

This cross-sectional survey investigated untreated early childhood caries (ECC) and its associated factors among 5-year-old children in Hong Kong. Children were recruited using a multistage sampling method. One dentist examined the children in kindergarten to diagnose untreated ECC (dt) at the cavitation level. Each child’s demographic information, snacking behaviour, and oral health-related practice were collected using a parental questionnaire. The relationships between the untreated ECC and demographic information, snacking behaviours, and oral health-–related practice were analysed by zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression analysis. This survey recruited 404 children. Their dt score was 2.8 ± 3.8. The significant untreated ECC (SiUC) index, which was one-third of the children with the highest dt score, was 7.1 ± 3.6. Their untreated ECC prevalence was 57%, which was associated with the district the child lived in. Most children with untreated ECC (71%, 164/231) had never visited a dentist. Children who brushed without toothpaste had more untreated ECC. Children coming from low-income families and with a lower maternal education level had a higher risk of ECC. In conclusion, untreated ECC was prevalent and unevenly distributed among 5-year-old children in Hong Kong. Its prevalence was associated with toothpaste use, family income, maternal education level and the district they lived in.

Download Full-text

Oral Health Policies to Tackle the Burden of Early Childhood Caries: A Review of 14 Countries/Regions

Frontiers in Oral Health ◽

10.3389/froh.2021.670154 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Jieyi Chen ◽

Duangporn Duangthip ◽

Sherry Shiqian Gao ◽

Fang Huang ◽

Robert Anthonappa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Oral Health ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Care Program ◽

Health Policies ◽

Limited Information ◽

Significant Public Health ◽

Population Ratio ◽

Childhood Caries

Aim: Early childhood caries (ECC) has significant public health implications but has received inadequate global attention. There is limited information regarding the success of oral health policies implemented to address the challenges of ECC. This review aimed to summarize such policies to tackle ECC from different countries/regions.Method: Independent collaborators from 14 countries/regions (Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nigeria, Thailand, UK, USA, and Venezuela) collected the data. The ECC status, dental workforce, oral health policies on ECC prevention in different countries/regions were summarized by each country.Results: The findings indicated that ECC prevalence varied in different countries/regions. The lowest prevalence of ECC among 5-year-old children was found in Nigeria (7%), and the highest was found in Indonesia (90%). The existing dental workforce and resources are limited in most countries. The smallest dentist to population ratio was reported by Nigeria at 1:48,400, whereas the highest ratio was in Brazil (1:600). Out of 14, three (21%) countries namely India, Venezuela and Cambodia had no national oral health policies addressing ECC and four (29%) countries (Cambodia, China, India, Venezuela) had no publicly funded dental care program for 0–5-year-old children. Water fluoridation is available in four countries/regions (Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, USA).Conclusion: ECC remains a global health challenge and dental workforce is limited. National/regional programs to tackle ECC are not yet prioritized in many countries/regions. Evidence to support demonstration projects is limited. Further research on the cost-effectiveness of interventions strategies is required for policymakers.

Download Full-text

Early childhood caries and oral health care of Hong Kong preschool children

Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry ◽

10.2147/ccide.s190993 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol Volume 11 ◽

pp. 27-35 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kitty Jieyi Chen ◽

Sherry Shiqian Gao ◽

Duangporn Duangthip ◽

Edward Chin Man Lo ◽

Chun Hung Chu

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Early Childhood ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Preschool Children ◽

Oral Health ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Oral Health Care ◽

Childhood Caries

Download Full-text

Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries among Children at Two Community Health Centers in Hawaii

Journal of Dentistry & Oral Disorders ◽

10.26420/jdentoraldisord.2017.1072 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer L. Logigian

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Community Health ◽

Community Health Centers ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Health Centers ◽

Childhood Caries

Download Full-text

Prevention and Treatment of Early Childhood Caries (ECC)

Journal Of Medicine & Health ◽

10.28932/jmh.v1i3.525 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Jeffrey .

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Health Problem ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Health Providers ◽

Missing Teeth ◽

Optimal Basis ◽

Major Health Problem ◽

Major Health ◽

Childhood Caries

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a chronic disease that can be prevented. It commonlyaffects children involving in one or more decayed (with lesions or not) teeth, missing teeth (dueto caries), or teeth with fillings in children aged under 71 months. The disease is sometimesoverlooked, but this condition usually affects the general health of children. Early detection ofEarly Childhood Caries (ECC) can prevent problems which are harmful to children. Therefore,the ECC must be prevented and for teeth that have had dental caries they should be givenproper treatment so as not to worsen and affect the quality of life in children. Prevention of thisdisease is a significant component in any health program to prepare for the optimal basis forthe oral health of children. This condition will become a serious health problem if not handledproperly, and it is a major health problem for health providers throughout the world.Primarypreventive must be initiated since a woman getting pregnant.Keywords: Early Childhood Caries (ECC), prevention, treatment

Download Full-text