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| 2010-22 |
| 22-1 |
ISSN (Print) 1013-9052
EISSN 1658-3558
The Saudi Dental Journal,
P.O. Box 52500,
Riyadh 11563,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
P.O. Box 52500,
Riyadh 11563,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| Tel. |
966-1-467-7328 |
| Fax. |
933-1-467-7308 / 966-1-467-7534 |
| Email |
saudidj@ksu.edu.sa |
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The relationship between diet and dental caries in 2 and 4 year old children in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
EissaAl-Hosani,BDS, PhD*,
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between dietary behaviour and dental caries in 2 and 4 year old children in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. All three regions of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi were included. In Abu Dhabi, 160 children (80 in each age group), 120 in Al-Ain (60 in each age group) and 120 in the Western Region (60 in each age group) were selected randomly. Selection was made from the Maternity and Child Health Centres for the 2 year olds in Abu Dhabi, Al-Ain and Western Region and for 4 year olds in Al-Ain and Western Region, while four year olds in Abu Dhabi were selected from kindergartens. A questionnaire requiring information on dietary behaviour of the children was sent to parents before the child was dentally examined. All clinical examinations were conducted by one trained examiner, using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Data were analysed for prevalence and experience of dental caries in two steps (bi-variateand multivariate), using an SPSS programme. Caries experience was high: it ranged from 1.7 dmft to 2.8 dmft in 2 year olds and from 5.1 to 6.2 dmft in 4 year olds. The prevalence of dental caries ranged from 36% to 47% in 2 year olds and from 71 % to 86 % in 4 year olds. The dietary factors related to caries prevalence and experience in these children in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi were 'preparation of the food for the child between meals by the maid, father or grandparents', 'feeding of the child by grandparents when parents are away', 'types of foods in the main meals', 'eating frequency between meals', 'types of drinks between meals' and 'types of foods between meals". It can be concluded that the way young children are fed is related to the occurrence of dental caries. Qualitative studies are needed to find a way to reduce this problem.
Saudi Dental Journal 2000;12(3):149-155.
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