Association between early childhood caries and anthropometric growth and nutritional status in preschool children: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To estimate the prevalence and dmft burden of early childhood caries (ECC) among preschool children and to examine associations between ECC and anthropometric growth indicators (HAZ, WAZ, WHZ) as well as behavioral and parental factors.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 380 children aged 3-6 years selected via multistage cluster sampling from 15 kindergartens in Shijiazhuang, China. ECC was assessed according to WHO Oral Health Survey methods, and dmft (decayed, missing, and filled primary teeth) was calculated. Anthropometric growth was evaluated using WHO Z-scores: height-for-age (HAZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and weight-for-height (WHZ), with standard cutoffs (Z < -2 indicating stunting, underweight, and wasting, respectively). Parents

SUBMITTER: Cao Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12672484 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature