CARIES EXPERIENCE IN DECIDUOUS DENTITION OF RURAL CHINESE CHILDREN 3-5 YEARS OLD IN RELATION TO THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF ENAMEL HYPOPLASIA

The association of enamel hypoplasia (EHP) with dental caries of the d eciduous dentition was determined in 1,344 rural Chinese children aged 3-5 years. The degree of EHP was determined using a modified DDE Inde x. Number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth and tooth surfaces wer e determined for all subjects. Anthropometric assessment of body weigh t and height was done as an indirect measure of the nutritional status of the children. Results from the study showed that the prevalence of EHP was 22.3% in the total study population. The prevalence of dental caries was 82.3%. There was no difference in the caries experience be tween males and females. Significantly greater caries experience was o bserved among the children living in a low socioeconomic county and ch ildren with low height for age. Children with low birth weight showed a slightly higher percentage of caries than those born with normal bir th wight. Children with enamel hypoplasia demonstrated a significantly higher caries experience than those who did not have such defects. Th e results of this study consistently support previous studies that fou nd nutritional deficiency to have an important impact on tooth develop ment and susceptibility to dental diseases. This study also indicates that the presence of enamel hypoplasia may he a predisposing factor fo r initiation and progression of dental caries, and a predictor of high caries susceptibility in a community, particularly if fluoride progra ms are not implemented.