Early occurrence of childhood dental caries among low literate families.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify the oral health status and influencing factors in preschool children in Tabriz, Iran. A total of 756 children from 20% of the total district preschools were selected using a two-step random sampling procedure. Questionnaires were used to collect demographic and socio-economic data. Oral exams were conducted by a single pediatric dentist to assess the children's oral health, and to determine the number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft) according to the World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of caries.

RESULTS: Out of 756 preschool children, 51.5% boys with mean age of years 5.76 (SD = 0.78) were enrolled. The median (25th-75th Pertcentile) of dmft index in boys and girls was 4 (2-9) and 5 (2-8), respectively. Only 15.1% children had decay-free teeth. The results of univariate analysis showed a significant relationship between dmft index and child age (P < 0.001), mother's years of education (P = 0.001), mother's employment status (P < 0.001), and family socio-economic status (P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, statistical significance was found in sex (P = 0.007), age groups except for 5 years (P = 0.210), mother's education status (P < 0.001) as well as in families with intermediate (P = 0.024), and high (P = 0.072) socio-economic status.