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

Abstract

Introduction Dental 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. Methods In 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. Results There 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 car..