# Student Assessments of Early Childhood Caries in Some Informal Settlements of Cape Town: A 10‐Year Series of Cross‐Sectional Studies

## TL;DR

This study tracked tooth decay in young children in Cape Town's informal settlements over 10 years and found consistently high levels of dental issues.

## Contribution

The study provides a 10-year longitudinal analysis of Early Childhood Caries in a specific South African population.

## Key findings

- The mean dmft increased over time for 4–5-year-olds but remained high for both age groups.
- The proportion of caries-free children significantly decreased from 2009 to 2019.
- The pufa score decreased significantly, while the SiC score remained unchanged.

## Abstract

To assess Early Childhood Caries by measuring the dmft, Significant Caries Index (SiC), pufa, and caries‐free status in informal settlements outside Cape Town, South Africa over a 10‐year period.

A series of cross‐sectional studies over a 10‐year period (2009–2019). Surveys were carried out in preschools in informal settlements. A total of 5090 children aged from 1 to 5 years of age were examined.

For 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds, the mean dmft was 4.33 ± 1.55, and for 4‐ and 5‐year‐olds, it was 6.34 ± 1.48. The difference in dmft for 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds increased but did not differ statistically between 2009 and 2019. For 4–5 years old, there was an increase over time. For 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds, the mean pufa was 0.34 ± 0.28, and for 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, it was 0.63 ± 0.59. For 1‐ to 3‐ and for 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, there was a statistically significant, lower pufa 2009–2019. For 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds, the mean SiC was 11.0 ± 2.35, and for 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, it was 12.05 ± 1.89. There was a difference in SiC for 1–3 and for 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, which was higher but did not differ statistically 2009–2019. Among 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds, 32.1% were assessed as caries‐free. Among 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds, 16.0% were caries‐free. There was a statistically significant, lower number of caries‐free 1‐ to 3‐year‐old and 4‐ 5‐year‐old children 2009–2019.

The mean dmft has been found to be continuously high from 2009 to 2019. The SiC score remained unchanged, whereas pufa was significantly lower. The frequency of caries‐free children was lower over time.

Over a 10‐year period (2009–2019), 5090 children (1–5 years) in preschools in informal settlements outside Cape Town were examined for Early Childhood Caries. The findings highlight a significant need for dental care: The mean dmft was high, 4.33 for 1‐ to 3‐year‐olds and 6.34 for 4‐ to 5‐year‐olds with an increase over time. SiC scores remained high. Although pufa decreased, only 32.1% of younger and 16.0% of older children were caries‐free. The proportion of caries‐free children dropped notably over the decade.