Factors Affecting Early Childhood Caries Among Special Children in Local Population of Peshawar, KPK

Objective: To access the prevalence and associated causes of early childhood caries among the special children of local population. Study Design: Descriptive Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at different special schools of Peshawar over a period of 3 months (10 October 2020- 28 December 2020). Materials and Methods: Sample size was calculated using G-Power (3.1.9.2) using convenience sampling technique.153 children below 6 years of age with unerupted permanent molars were accessed for caries severity using Decayed, Missing, and filled teeth surfaces (dmfs) index using daylight/ artificial torch light. Results: Prevalence of ECC in our study model was found to be 77%. Child's dietary habits and oral hygiene habits were found to be ominously allied with Early Childhood Caries (P value = 0.000). While age, gender and parental education did not show any remarkable role in the widespread presence of ECC. Conclusion: This study accentuates high prevalence of ECC (77%) among special children in Peshawar