THỰC TRẠNG SỨC KHỎE RĂNG MIỆNG Ở TRẺ 3-5 TUỔI TẠI BÀ RỊA - VŨNG TÀU: NGHIÊN CỨU CẮT NGANG

Abstract

Objective: To assess the oral health status of children aged 3 to 5 years in Ba Ria–Vung Tau province, Vietnam, focusing on the decayed-missing-filled teeth index (dmft), bleeding on probing (BOP), and Dean’s index. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2024 on 2387 children selected through stratified sampling from 16 urban and rural preschools. Clinical examinations were performed using WHO (2013) criteria, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests (significance level: p < 0.05). Results: The mean dmf index increased with age from 5.15 in 3-year-olds to 8.19 in 5-year-olds, and was significantly higher in rural areas compared to urban areas (p < 0.001). The decay component (D-index) accounted for the majority of the dmft score. BOP ranged from 6.08% to 7.73%, indicating a non-severe level of gingival inflammation. Dean’s Index was low (0.11–0.15), suggesting minimal impact of fluorosis on public health. Conclusion: Dental caries remains a major concern among preschool children in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, especially in rural areas. Community dental interventions such as fluoride varnish application, oral hygiene education for parents, and regular dental checkups are necessary to improve children's oral health.