[Collection of epidemiological data on oral and dental health in young children. Pilot study conducted with 212 children in 11 ONE centers in the Province of Liège].

Dental caries still affect 60 to 90 % of children attending school worldwide. We collected epidemiological data from 212 children under the age of 6 supervised by the Office of Birth and Childhood in the Province of Liège. We analyzed the relationships between the prevalence of dental caries in the studied population sample and the risk factors that are usually associated to dental carries. Among the 212 examined children, 66 % had neither decayed nor filled teeth, 10.4 % had one decayed or filled teeth, and 23.6 % had at least 2 decayed or filled teeth. The prevalence of carious disease increases with age, ranging from 33 % for 3-year children to 44 % for 4-year children and to 59 % for 5-year children. Moreover, the number of decayed or filled teeth is significantly higher for children who brush their teeth alone, without the help of parents, and for those who consume frequently sweet snacks and drinks. Finally, the socio-economic condition also influences dental health of very young children.