Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in Meerut City
Author Information
Author(s): Muacevic Alexander, Adler John R, Kaur Navpreet, Srivastava Nikhil, Rana Vivek, Kaushik Noopur, Pruthi Tushar, kankerwal Aarushi, Chaudhary Riya
Primary Institution: Subharti Dental College and Hospital, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, IND
Hypothesis
What is the prevalence of early childhood caries among children visiting a dental outpatient department in Meerut City?
Conclusion
The study found that 60.3% of children aged 2-6 years visiting the dental OPD had early childhood caries, with a mean DMFT score of 4.27.
Supporting Evidence
- 60.3% of the 1800 children examined had early childhood caries.
- 61.6% of the affected children were males.
- The prevalence of ECC was significantly higher in children aged 3-6 years compared to those under 3 years.
- The mean DMFT score of the study population was 4.27 ± 2.62.
- 70.9% of children visited the OPD due to pain.
Takeaway
Many young children in Meerut have tooth decay, and most of them come to the dentist because their teeth hurt.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study was conducted among children aged 2-6 years visiting the dental OPD, using Type III examination and the DMFT index for evaluation.
Limitations
The study did not account for several risk factors influencing ECC, such as breastfeeding history and dietary habits.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 2-6 years, with 61.6% males and 38.4% females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website