Early Childhood Caries—Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Severity: A Hospital-Based Study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Early childhood caries (ECC) is not merely a problem of the tooth; rather, it has negative impacts on the child’s growth and development and oral health-related quality of life. The prevalence of ECC varies widely, and more variance is observed between countries than continents, and it changes over time. The current cross-sectional study aimed to determine ECC’s prevalence, associated factors, and severity. This study was conducted in the Dental Clinic Complex, North Riyadh, KSA. The study sample included 306 participants between 36 and 71 months of age. A questionnaire was developed to collect information from participants. The decaying and filled teeth (DMFT) index was used to estimate the prevalence of caries. The study results revealed the prevalence of ECC to be 76% among 36- to 71-month-old children in North Riyadh. ECC is influenced by socioeconomic factors like maternal occupation, education, oral hygiene habits, and dietary patterns. Also, it was found that exclusively breastfed children have lower ECC odds (68.1% vs. 83.6%, p = 0.001), while the intake of more than three between-meal sugar-containing snacks/beverages per day increases the likelihood of ECC (63.5% vs. 79.8%, p = 0.006). The researchers recommend encouraging breastfeeding as it correlates with lower ECC prevalence, in addition to establishing effective oral hygiene practices for preschool children.