OBJECTIVES: Caries is the most common chronic, non-communicable disease in children. The aim of our study is to assess the prevalence of caries in primary school-age children and its determinants.

METHODS: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was carried out in the St. László Primary School in Türje between December 2022 and March 2023. The sample created by non-random, purposive expert sampling consisted of students aged 8-14 years (N=100). Those whose parents did not consent to participate in the research, did not complete at least 70% of the questionnaire and/or had an intellectual disability were excluded. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale was used to assess dental fear, and the children's df and DMF-T were calculated during a document analysis. Descriptive and χ²-test, t test and correlation analysis were used to calculate the results, with Microsoft Excel version 2302 (p≤0.05).

RESULTS: The df-t index was 0.92±1.67 and the DMF-T index was 0.75±1.37 in the sample. 66% of children eat sweets daily. Sociodemographic data and the prevalence of caries did not correlate (p>0.05). Only 3% of the students had no dental anxiety, but 18% had it on an extremely high level. The degree of dental anxiety did not correlate with the prevalence of caries (p=0.747). There was a significant correlation between sociodemographic factors and the knowledge test score (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The results show that caries is already present in the early remaining dentition and affects the deciduous teeth. More effective preventive programmes are needed, as well as an emphasis on the role of parents and their education in dental care.