Early Childhood Caries and Its Associated Factors Among 5-Year-Old Children in Shenzhen City, China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT: Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) remains a critical public health challenge, yet recent prevalence data and risk factors are scarce in rapidly urbanizing regions like Shenzhen City, China. Objectives: This study aimed to assess ECC prevalence and identify risk factors among 5-year-old children in Shenzhen City. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Shenzhen City in 2024, recruiting 5-year-old children through multistage sampling from kindergartens. Self-administered parental questionnaires were distributed to collect data such as demographic characteristics, socioeconomic background and oral health-related behaviors. One trained dentist conducted the oral examination in kindergartens using ball-ended community periodontal index probes and dispos

SUBMITTER: Cheng AY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12731665 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature