WHITE SPOTS CARIES IN MEXICAN-AMERICAN TODDLERS AND PARENTAL PREFERENCE FOR VARIOUS STRATEGIES

One hundred and thirty Mexican-American children ages nine to thirty-f our months (Mean = 17.1 months), and their parents/caretakers were stu died at a farmworkers clinic in rural Washington. Parents/caretakers p articipated in a bilingual interview; then each child received a denta l examination, and a cotton swab was used to collect plaque for a cari es activity test (Cariostat). Results showed that 7 percent had at lea st one maxillary incisor decayed and 30.4 percent had at least one inc isor with a white spot lesion. The Cariostat was related to dental age , but not to disease. Forty percent of the parents/caretakers whose ch ildren had disease were aware of the problem. Immediate substitution o f cup for bottle and the elimination of extra nighttime feedings were the least likely interventions endorsed by the subjects. Other interve ntions, including periodic visits for fluoride applications were much more likely.