Abstract
We constructed a new dental examination using standardized examination criteria and data analysis systems in order to assess the status of caries experiences of preschool children in S city. In 2007, clinical dental examinations on the new system were carried out at total of 118 nursery schools and 106 kindergartens in S city. A total of 23,222 children's data (10,432 nursery school children and 12,790 kindergarten children) was obtained, and caries prevalence and status of treatment were compared between nursery school children and kindergarten children. The following results were obtained. 1. Percentage of children with caries was 29.6% for 3-year-olds, 44.1% for 4-year-olds, 56.1% for 5- year-olds in nursery schools, whereas it was 24.3% for 3-year-olds, 39.8% for 4-year-olds, 52.0% for 5-year-olds in kindergartens. Those were significantly higher in nursery schools than in kindergartens. 2. Mean dft values per child at 3 to 5-years-old in nursery school children were also higher than those in kindergarten children. 3. Trend toward decrease in caries prevalence was showed in both nursery school children and kindergarten children, but it was 2 to 3 years behind the national trend. 4. Percentage of children with caries experience and without decayed teeth and percentage of treated teeth at each age of 3 to 5-years-old in nursery school children was significantly lower than those in kindergarten children. 5. Percentage of treated teeth for all age children in both nursery schools and kindergartens except 5- year-old children in kindergartens was far lower than the percentage of decayed teeth. These results demonstrated that both nursery school children and kindergarten children in S city still showed high caries experiences and nursery school children had higher caries prevalence and more untreated teeth than kindergarten children.
