Assessment of Severity and Pattern of Early Childhood Caries Using ICDAS II Criteria: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Early childhood caries is highly prevalent worldwide. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System incorporates both the non-cavitated and cavitated carious lesions with acceptable reliability. The objective of the present study was to assess the severity and pattern of early childhood caries among children visiting outpatient department of a dental college in Nepal. The study also aimed to compare the severity and pattern based on individual tooth type. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children of age group 24-71 months in primary dentition stage. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System II criteria was used to detect dental caries, and its severity and pattern. The ethical approval was taken from the institutional ethical committee (IRC Ref. No.: 1, 36, 2079/2080 IRC PDCH 2022 21). Results: The dental cries in children of age group 48-60 months was 1338 (33.46%) and dentinal caries (Code 5) was observed in 112 (8.37%). Multi-surface caries was 644 (16.15%), and occlusal surface caries was 481 (12.06%). Among the study population, 227 (5.69%) of the teeth assessed were associated with restoration and sealants. Enamel caries among the maxillary second molars (55/65) (Code 3) was in 94 (23.5%), and the dentinal caries (Code 5) in maxillary central incisors (51/61)was in 90 (22.78%). Conclusions: Majority of the children enrolled in the study had multiple cavitated and non-cavitated carious teeth involving different surfaces. Severity and pattern of caries also varied among individual tooth type.

Keywords

• early childhood caries
• ICDAS II criteria
• pattern
• severity
• tooth type