Moshira Abd El-Kader Abd El-Maksoud, Ali Ali Mortada And Dalia Mohammad Moheb,

ABSTRACT
Background: Dental Caries In Preschool Children Remains A Major Dental Public Health Problem And Affects Significant Numbers Of Children In Developed And Developing Countries. The Incidence Is Increasing In Developing Countries, Such As Egypt, Because Of Lifestyle Changes, Absence Of Oral Health-preventive Services And Inadequate Access To Oral Health Care.

Aim: Assess The Prevalence Of Dental Caries Among A Group Of Preschool Children Aged From 3 To Less Than 6 Years Old In EL-Mansoura City, (one Of The Egyptian Governorates). Subjects And Methods: 1320 Children Of Both Sexes Were Investigated By One Examiners For Dental Caries Using The Dmf Index According To The WHO Method. Result: 72% Of The Studied Children Have Already Experienced Dental Caries At The Age Of 3 To Less Than 6 Years (953 Children) While The Other 28% Of Children Were Caries-free (367 Children). Children Of Highly Educated (high) Level Of Parents Were Found Have Lower Dmf Level While Higher Dmf Were Seen In Primary Education (low) Level Of Parents. Conclusion: The Prevalence Of Dental Caries Was Found To Be High Among 3 To Less Than 6 Years Preschool Children, And Caries Experience Increased With Age. This Was Mostly Associated With Sugar Consumption So There Is A Real Need To Make Improvements At Level Of Parent Dental Health Education Level, Application Preventive Measures, And Dietary Habits Among Preschool Children.