Presentation of Untreated Dental Caries for Preventive Oral Health Care and Socio-Behavioural Attributes of Toddlers Attended a Public Dental Hospital in Sri Lanka

 

Abstract

Background: Rapidly progressive dental caries without treatment (untreated dental caries) among toddlers denotes one of the leading unmet health needs. Preventive oral health care is essential to address this need.

Aim: To assess untreated dental caries burden, socio-demographic attributes and oral health behaviours of toddlers ≤ 3-years who attended a premier tertiary care public dental hospital in Sri Lanka.

Design: Retrospective data were collected for 24-months period comprising socio-demographic, oral heath behaviours, untreated dental caries among toddlers ≤ 3-years attended the Preventive Oral Health Unit of National Dental Hospital (Teaching) Sri Lanka. Toddlers were grouped as having <6 and ≥ 6 untreated carious teeth.

Results: Of 236 toddlers aged ≤ 3-years, the majority was aged 2-3 years and represented all ethnic groups. The overwhelming majority of mothers were housewives whilst 41.5% of fathers were skilled/unskilled workers. As reported by parents, three fourths of toddlers were without previous dental visits, but practiced assisted tooth brushing twice daily. However, 68.2% indulged in daily cariogenic dietary pattern which was significantly associated with the high burden of untreated dental caries among toddlers (p=0.007).

Conclusions: Parents across all social strata should be educated and empowered on modifying the daily cariogenic dietary pattern to a healthy balanced diet and accessing preventive oral health care for their toddlers at risk of progressive dental caries.

Keywords:Early childhood caries; untreated dental caries; toddlers; preventive oral health care; Sri Lanka

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