RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Early childhood caries is like an epidemic, especially in the developing world, hence exploring its appropriate factors in causing the disease the need of the hour. Hence, the aim of the present study was to evaluate social and behavioral determinants of early childhood caries within the region of Ambala, Haryana. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present survey elaborated oral examination among 398 study participants within the age group of 4-5 years. Carious tooth was recorded using Gruebbel's deft DEFT index using clean mouth mirror and probe. A questionnaire comprising 21 questions in English as well as Hindi was prepared. There was an interviewer who took the interview of parents or caregivers. The questionnaire consisted of questions which were aimed at gaining information regarding infants feeding practice, social factors, and dental health behavior. The results of the study were tabulated, and inferential statistics were applied using ANOVA test along with regression (multiple logistic) procedure. RESULTS: The occurrence of caries was affected by the behavioral factors such as breastfeeding habits, bottle feeding habits, age of beginning of solid foods in children. There was no influence of age of beginning of taking fluid from cup. Besides social factors like annual family income, education of mothers, age of mother at the time of birth of children, age of children, order of children in the family had a significant effect over the occurrence and severity and extent of caries. Factors such as gender of children and profession of mother did not have had a significant role in early childhood caries. Dental health habits such as tooth brushing frequency, brushing under supervision, frequency of toothbrushing, quantity of toothpaste used had a significant effect over the frequency, and acerbity of caries in early infanthood. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded from this study that there is a significant correlation between several social and behavioral determinants and early childhood caries.