Abstract
The purpose of this study was to observe the dental caries of young children visiting the Dental Clinic of Kurashiki Kankyo Health Center during the 4 years from June 1978 to May 1982. Dental observations were performed on 1865 children up to 6 years old. The results obtained and conclusions were as follows:
1) The number of children who received the first examination at the Kurashiki Kankyo Health Center reached maximum in 1979 (497) and decreased year after year.
2) The total number of children who underwent teeth examination and preventive treatment at the Kurashiki Kankyo Health Center both increased year after year.
3) The percentage of caries experienced by 0 year old children was 0%; 1 year old children: 20.3%; 2 year old children: 49.4%; 3 year old children: 68.8%; and children 4 year of age and older: 77.8%.
4) The percentage of caries found in teeth of 1 year old children was 5.0%; 2 year children: 12.1%; 3 year old: 18.1%; children 4 year and loder: 27.6%.
5) The percentage of caries found in teeth was highest for central milk incisors and second milk molars in the upper and lower jaw, respectively. On the other hand, this was lowest for first milk molars and lateral milk incisors in respective jaws.
6) We have been rsearching factors that cause the dental caries of young children from the view point of preventive dentistry. The relationship between the birth weight and the rate of de(m)f teeth was found to be as follows: the rate was statistically higher for children whose weight was below 2,500 g, (low birth weight infants), and also higher for children with the habit of irregular eating between meals than for those with regular eating habits.
