Assessment of Severity and Pattern of Early Childhood Caries Using ICDAS II Criteria: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Early childhood caries is highly prevalent worldwide. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System incorporates both the non-cavitated and cavitated carious lesions with acceptable reliability. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence, severity and pattern of early childhood caries among children visiting outpatient department of a dental college in Nepal. The study also aimed to compare the severity and pattern based on individual tooth type. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 children of age group 24-71 months. The International Caries Detection and Assessment System II criteria was used to detect dental caries, and its severity and pattern. The ethical approval was taken from the institutional ethical committee (IRC Reference number: 1, 36, 2079/2080 IRC PDCH 2022 21). RESULTS: Highest caries prevalence was seen among 48 to 60 month olds, whereas lowest prevalence was seen among the 24 to 35 month-old children. Based on severity, dentinal caries (Code 5) 526 (13.19%) was the most prevalent and undermined dentinal caries (Code 4) 36 (0.9%) was the least prevalent. The most common pattern of dental caries was multi-surface caries 644 (16.15%), and the least common pattern was the lingual surface caries 22 (0.55%). Prevalence of dental caries was highest in occlusal surface of mandibular second molars 151 (37.75%), and 227 (5.69%) of the teeth had received restoration and sealants of some sort (CARS). CONCLUSIONS: Majority of the children enrolled in the study had multiple cavitated and non-cavitated carious teeth involving different surfaces. Severity and pattern of caries also varied among individual tooth type.