Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a term that describes dental caries in primary teeth and has been defined as the presence of one or more primary teeth that are decayed noncavitated and cavitated lesions) or (because of caries) missing or filled. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the ECC experience in children in a rural district of Fiji. Material and Methods: A total of 115 infants (aged 1 to 29 months), 135 preschoolers (aged 30 to 71 months) and 207 school-aged children (aged 6 to 8 years) were examined at a Maternal and Child Health Clinic, Kindergartens, and Primary Schools in rural villages or settlements. Visual oral examinations were conducted under natural light using a plane dental mirror and a blunt explorer according to WHO criteria. Results: The mean dmft scores for infants with erupted teeth, preschoolers, and school children were 0.52, 5.9, 5.4 respectively. Some children had the most extreme form of rampant decay. About 90% of the dmf teeth were decayed, either non-cavitated or cavitated. The mean number of teeth affected with dental caries was similar for both Indian and Fijian children for all ages. Discussion: The results of this study comprise part of the baseline data for a health promotion project addressing ECC in rural Fiji. Conclusion: ECC is a significant problem in rural Fiji needs to be addressed urgently.
Acknowledgement: Colgate Oral Care.