Dental caries prevalence among 3- and 5-year old children in Da Nang, Vietnam

Background: Da Nang city is located in the central of Vietnam and is a developing country in Asia. Previous studies have shown high dental caries prevalence among young children in Vietnam. Dental caries is a chronic disease that can cause pain and discomfort for individuals suffering from the disease. In 2008 intervention program was made at Hoa Huong Dong Pre-school, in Da Nang. The intervention was made to promote better dental health in children at the school, after study results showed that almost all children had at least one dental caries lesion. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dental caries among pre-school children in Da Nang, Vietnam. Method: The study was a cross-sectional cohort study with clinical dental examination, among 143 children aged 3 and 5 at Hoa Huong Dong Pre-school in Da Nang. Result: Results showed that 96.5 % of all participating children suffered from at least one initial and, or manifest dental carious lesion. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that dental caries prevalence among 3- and 5-year old children is high. Further prevention programs and more studies to promote better dental health for young children in Da Nang are needed