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 deciduous dentition was determined in 1,344 rural Chinese children aged 3-5 years. The degree of EHP was determined using a modified DDE Index. Number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth and tooth surfaces were determined for all subjects. Anthropometric assessment of body weight 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 between males and females. Significantly greater caries experience was observed among the children living in a low socioeconomic county and children with low height for age. Children with low birth weight showed a slightly higher percentage of caries than those born with normal birth wight. Children with enamel hypoplasia demonstrated a significantly higher caries experience than those who did not have such defects. The results of this study consistently support previous studies that found nutritional deficiency to have an important impact on tooth development and susceptibility to dental diseases. This study also indicates that the presence of enamel hypoplasia may he a predisposing factor for initiation and progression of dental caries, and a predictor of high caries susceptibility in a community, particularly if fluoride programs are not implemented.