Early childhood caries and maternal caries experience in a convenience sample of Cambodian pre-schoolers

IntroductionDental caries experience in Cambodian children is known to be severe; however, very little research has been directed towards examining the risk indicators for early childhood caries in this population.MethodsIn the present study a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of 362 preschool children and their primary caregivers was undertaken across three provinces of Cambodia. Participants answered questions in a structured interview and each had an intra-oral examination.ResultsThere was a high prevalence and severity of dental caries in the preschool children. The children had a mean age of 42 months (SD 19), the mean dmft was 5.3 (SD 5.4), 65.6% had experience of caries, 50.6% had Severe Early Childhood Caries (SECC) and 28.0% had one or more pulpally involved teeth. There was a significant association between maternal caries experience and the child's caries experience but no association between the caries experience of caregivers who were not the mother and the children in their care. Maternal caries experience and maternal education was a good predictor of SECC in this sample.ConclusionsHigh levels of ECC in Cambodian preschool children were determined and the present results support the findings of other studies that report an association between maternal and child caries experience.