Risk Factors of Dental Caries in Preschool Children in Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study

Dental caries remains prevalent in young children. This study determined dental caries prevalence and risk factors associated with caries experience in Thai preschool children. Five kindergartens in Samut Sakhon Province were evaluated. Preschool children (4- to 5-year-old children) were recruited. The participants’ parents completed a questionnaire regarding their children’s demographic and socio-economic backgrounds and their oral health-related behaviors. Dental caries status and oral hygiene were recorded using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth index (dmft) and visible plaque index (VPI), respectively. In total, 308 children completed the oral examination (93.9% response rate). The mean age of the children was 5.1 ± 0.5 years old. Among them, 249 children (80.8%) had dental caries (dmft > 0) and their mean dmft score (SD) was 8.2 (4.7). The children’s age, VPI, primary caregiver, age of starting tooth brushing, assisted tooth brushing, and mother’s education level were significantly associated with dental caries (X2test, p < 0.05). The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that older children with a higher VPI score and whose mothers had lower education had a significantly higher risk of having dental caries (p < 0.05). Caries prevalence was high among the evaluated Thai preschool children. The child’s age, visible dental plaque, and mother’s educational level are significant risk factors for dental caries.