Socioeconomic Factors and Oral Health-Related Behaviours Associated with Dental Caries in Preschool Children from Central Italy (Province of Ascoli Piceno)

BACKGROUND: Dental caries is a serious oral health concern with high prevalence in preschool children. AIM: To assess the association among oral health-related behaviors, socioeconomic factors, and dental caries in Italian preschool children. DESIGN: 513 preschool children from 3 to 6 years of age, enrolled in nursery schools in central Italy, represent the population of the present study. The children underwent dental clinical examination and were divided on the basis of their caries experience in the primary dentition (“Yes” or “No”). Nonparametric analysis and univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the contribution of oral health-related behaviors and socioeconomic factors to the caries experience in the primary dentition. RESULTS: 419 children were caries free, and 94 children had caries experience in the primary dentition, corresponding to the 18.4% of participants. Different oral health-related behaviors and socioeconomic factors resulted to be associated with caries development. In particular, the mother's foreign nationality results in a strong predictive factor. CONCLUSIONS: The multivariate logistic model revealed factors significantly affecting caries experience in the primary dentition, which were the mother's nationality, the number of dental visits in a year, and the personal impression by the mother.