Socio-Behavioral Risk Indicators Linked to Untreated Early Childhood Caries and its Clinical Consequences in Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and the socio-behavioral risk indicators associated with untreated dental caries (UDC) and its clinical consequences.

Study design: A multi-stage cluster sampling approach was used to evaluate 168 preschool children in this cross-sectional study. The risk indicators associated with the presence of one or more decayed teeth (dt ≥ 1) and pulp-involved teeth (pt ≥ 1) were assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results: Overall, the prevalence of dt ≥ 1 and pt ≥ 1 was 82.1% and 27.9%, respectively. Children whose mothers had lower maternal education were 3.7 times more likely to have dt ≥ 1 than those whose mothers were graduates (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.29-10.91). Children whose mothers had a history of maternal caries were 4.2 times more likely to have dt ≥ 1 (AOR = 4.23, 95% CI 1.56-11.44). Children whose mothers had lower maternal education were 5 times more likely to have pt ≥ 1 (AOR = 4.99, 95% CI 2.57-13.39). Underweight children were 7.2 times more likely to have pt ≥ 1 (AOR = 7.17, 95% CI 1.88-5.10). Children whose mothers had a history of maternal caries were 6.6 times more likely to have pt ≥ 1 (AOR = 6.62, 95% CI 7.17-18.88).

Conclusions: Maternal education and caries were found to be significant risk indicators for UDC. The clinical consequences of UDC were related to child age, maternal education and caries, socioeconomic status and underweight.