A Study Concerning Tooth Decay Incidence in Children with Ages Between 3 and 6 Years

• Main Authors: Andrei Kozma, Dona Iordan Dumitru Andreea, Cristina Bodnar, Doriana Agop-Forna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sciendo 2018-11-01
• Series: ARS Medica Tomitana
• Subjects: dental decay; preschoolers; deciduous teeth
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.2478/arsm-2018-0036

Deciduous teeth cavities represent a frequent type of illness, which constitutes one of the most important dental health problems in pre-school children, caused by the direct implications and the possible consequences that it may have on permanent teeth. Even if a decrease in the incidence of dental cavities is registered in the industrialized countries of the world, when it comes to deciduous teeth, the frequency of the cavities is still high, at least for some certain social groups of the population. The purpose of the study is to collect current data on dental morbidity in the preschool population. There is not as much data concerning dental health in pre-school children as there is about school children, the reason being that preschoolar children are more difficult to consult. Material and Method: The study was conducted in a pediatric-clinic in Bucharest for a period of 5 years (ian. 01, 2013-dec. 31, 2018). The children included in the study are children who have had tooth decay. The number of children who participated in the study is 276. Results and Discussions: Of the 276 children studied, the highest incidence of tooth decay was for the age group between 3-4 years. This may signify, on one hand, a relatively high number of cavities at a young age, and on the other hand, the level of parental interest in dental care. Conclusions: The main conclusion of our study highlights the need to establish dental health education programs in both national and community level, where kindergartens and schools, have a great potential for influencing dental health care habits in children.