PREVALENCE OF DENTAL CARIES IN A GROUP OF EGYPTIAN CHILDREN AND ITS RELATION TO TV AND OTHER SCREENS TIME AND SUGAR CONSUMPTION: (A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY)

Background: The current study aimed to measure the prevalence of dental caries in a group of Egyptian children
aged six to eight years old and its relation to screen time, sugar consumption and dental neglect.
Methods: The present study was conducted on two hundred ninety seven children aged from six to eight years
old, attending the Outpatients’ Clinic of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health Department, Faculty of
Dentistry, Cairo University. A thorough assessment chart was recorded by the parents, which included five
sections, the first assessed demographic data, the second described the dental neglect scale, the third assessed
food consumption, the fourth evaluated screen time behavior, the fifth included intraoral examination which was
conducted using the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) and decayed, extracted, filled teeth (deft) indices.
Results: The prevalence of dental caries in our study sample was 100% using the DMFT\deft indices, and was
statistically significantly associated with age, parental education, frequency of tooth brushing, type and
frequency of snacking, dental neglect scale, and screen time. Around 80% of children used screens more than 2
hours per day. It was found that children with non-working mothers spent more time on screens compared to
those with working mothers. A statistically significant relationship was found between screen time, dental
neglect, and Age.
Conclusion: Increased prevalence of dental caries is associated with high sugar consumption, dental neglect scale,
and increased screen time. Minimizing sugar consumption and enhancing nutritional knowledge were considered
helpful measures to reduce the risk of dental caries and enhance oral health in children.