The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and extent of severity of dental caries in primary dentition, correlated with the preference of pre-school childern for fruit and vegetable consumption. The study included 146 preschool children with ages between 3-7 years, from the city of Bacu: 77 boys and 69 girls. 33.3% of the 3 year-old children preferred fruits, while 35.3% of them preferred vegetables. The dmft index recorded values of 3.7 for the 3 year-old children who consumed fruits and of 1.42, respectively, for the children having consumed vegetables. In the 6 year-old children, the dmft index had values of 5.1 for the children who preferred fruits and of 3.8, respectively, for those having consumed vegetables. The investigation put into evidence high values of the dmft index in all categories of age of the preschool children considered. The preference for fruits and vegetables was quite reduced in 3 and 4 year-old children, recording, nevertheless, significant values for 5 and 6-old year children, while the caries index showed high values for all categories of age.
Keywords:- Dental Caries
- fruits
- primary dentition
- vegetables