# Dental caries and actual utilization of dental services among primary school children in Egypt: a cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study examines dental caries and dental service use among Egyptian primary school children, finding that factors like age, school type, and parental fear influence these outcomes.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific socio-demographic and parental factors affecting dental caries and service utilization in Egyptian children.

## Key findings

- Dental caries were more prevalent in primary teeth (59.3%) than in permanent teeth (35.8%).
- Children in private schools had lower dental caries scores compared to those in public schools.
- Higher parental education and income were associated with reduced dental caries and increased service utilization.

## Abstract

Understanding factors influencing dental service utilization and dental caries assists dental professionals in addressing challenges within their field.

Assess the prevalence of dental caries, the actual pattern of dental service utilization, and factors affecting them, such as parents’ 1dental fear, demographic, and socio-demographic variables among primary school children.

This cross-sectional study included 1075 participants aged 6 to 12 years old, recruited from primary schools in Mansoura city, Egypt. This study was carried out in two stages; first, a well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic variables and parental fear. Second, clinical examination was performed to measure dental caries according to the World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria and to record the dental services utilized. A multi-stage cluster random sampling technique was used to select the study sample. Data was analyzed statistically using regression analysis, Chi-square, and Fisher’s exact tests.

The prevalence of dental caries was higher in primary teeth than in permanent teeth (59.3% vs. 35.8%). Likewise, a higher percentage of children had fillings in their primary dentition (14.1%) than in their permanent dentition (5.1%). 6–8 yearss age, of 6–8 years, significantly impacted dental caries prevalence and service utilization. Being in private schools significantly reduced dental caries in both types of dentitions (DMFT: Regression Coefficient (B) =-0.160, P-value (P) = 0.032), (deft: B=-0.459, P = 0.007). Children whose fathers had a higher educational level demonstrated lower dental caries scores in both dentitions (DMFT: B=-0.300, P = 0.023), (deft: B= -0.429, P = 0.035). A higher utilization rate of dental services was noted among children from families with higher incomes (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.607, P = 0.006). Parental fear was significantly correlated to an increased dental caries prevalence and reduced preventive services (P ≤ 0.05).

Despite the relatively high prevalence of dental caries among study participants, the utilization of dental services was low. Age, number of children, and parental-related factors were predictors of caries prevalence and dental service utilization. This underscores the importance of implementing nationwide educational initiatives aimed at schoolchildren’s parents to improve their understanding of accessible dental care options.

Not applicable.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12903-025-06414-3.