A STUDY ON THE NURSING CARIES OF KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN IN KOREA

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Journal of the Korean Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 1998;25(3):483-492.
Published online August 31, 1998.

A STUDY ON THE NURSING CARIES OF KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN IN KOREA

유치원 및 어린이집 아동의 우유병우식증에 관한 연구

김종철

서울대학교 치과대학 소아치과학교실 및 치학연구소

Abstract

To investigate the prevalence and etiologic factors of nursing caries, oral examination was performed on 1,100 kindergarten children from 6 Seoul areas and 3 Hongchun areas. Parents were asked to fill out questionnaires. The following results were obtained: 1. The prevalence of nursing caries among 1,100 in the sample group(age 30-75 months) was 14.8%. 2. Fathers' education level(p<0.05), mothers' education level(p<0.01) and monthly income was higher in caries-free group children. 3. When the dietary tendencies of nursing caries group and caries-free group were compared, no significant differences in the length and method of feeding were found. However, nursing caries group showed higher frequency of bedtime nursing habit(p<0.01), daytime use of bottle as a comforter(p<0.01) and other beverage feeding in addition to milk(p<0.01). 4. When the parents' awareness of caries prevention was compared, caries-free group per formed more frequent tooth cleansing(p<0.05) and periodic dental examination(p<0.01).5. Dental caries experience of mothers was significantly lower in the caries free group(p<0.05). From the above results, it can be concluded that deleterious nursing habit had great effect on developing nursing caries and the incidence of nursing caries was lower among children with parents of higher socioeconomic status.

Key Words: Nursing Caries, Prevalence, Socioeconomic status, Feeding Habit