Identification of Caries Risk Factors in Primary School Children in Korean by Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis

The purpose of this study was to identify the caries risk factors for developing a caries risk assessment model in primary school children in Korea. So this study was designed to be a follow-up study. The subjects were GUACHUN primary school children. One year follow-up oral examination survey based on N1DR diagnostic criteria was performed with 216 boys and 207 girls from 8 to 10 years old. The Dependent variable was DMFS increment during one year. The independent variables were permanent tooth index of caries experience(DMFT index), deciduous tooth index of caries experience (deft index), retentiveness of pit and fissure of first molars, Resazurin disc(intraoral acidogenicity) test, and simplified oral hygiene index. Toothbrushing habits, socioeconomic status of parents, visiting frequency of dental clinic, the kind of drinking water were assessed with self-recording questionnaires. Dietary habit between meals was measured by self-recording questionnaires during 4-days. Multiple logistic regression analysis was carried out. Odds ratio was calculated in order to know how the independent variables influence on DMFS increment. Average DMFS increment during one year was 1.45±2.03 (Mean±SD). Statistically significant risk factors of caries incidence were summarized as follows; the most powerful risk factor was permanent decayed tooth surface scores(p=0.0012, odds ratio=2.19), morphology of pit and fissure(p=0.0112, odds ratio=1.77), and deciduous filling tooth scores(p=0.0013, odds ratio=1.12). Caries incidence of children whose morphology of pit and fissure was middle was 1.77 times as high as that of children whose morphology of pit and fissure was shallow. And also education level of mother(p=0.0001, odds ratio=0.94) and visiting frequency of dental clinic (p=0.0283, odds ratio=1.08) were statistically significant. Consequently, deciduous caries experience, morphology of pit and fissure, education level of mother and visiting frequency of dental clinic can be used as risk factors for developing a caries risk assessment model in primary school children in Korea.ope