Aim: To measure the prevalence of caries, rampant caries and erosion in a group of 4-5-year-old children living in an institution in the city of Jeddah in the West Province of Saudi Arabia.
Design: Descriptive, cross sectional.
Sample and methods: A total of 80 children (51 boys, 29 girls) living in the Institute were examined visually for caries using BASCD criteria. Erosion of palatal and buccal surfaces of maxillary incisors was scored: 0 (no erosion), 1 (erosion into enamel), 2 (erosion into dentine) and 3 (erosion involving the pulp).
Results: Twenty-four of the Children (30 per cent) had caries and two had rampant caries. Mean dmft was 0.95 (+/- 2.03) and mean dmfs was 3.2 (+/- 6.51). These values are lower than other estimates for children of this age in Saudi Arabia. Ten children (12.5 per cent) had erosion affecting buccal or palatal surfaces of their maxillary incisor teeth. In seven, erosion was confined to enamel but in three it extended into dentine.
Conclusion: The lower caries levels seen in this group of children may be at least partly attributable to the effectiveness of strict dietary control and regular oral hygiene measures.