The researchers studying the prevalence of deciduous teeth dental caries in the UAE generally use the method of cluster sampling together with a questionnaire. Al‐Hosani and Rugg‐Gunn (2007) intended to determine how parental income relates to caries experience in children, so they classified their sampling population by age and social status. Al Mashhadani et al. (2017) aimed to estimate the oral health of schoolchildren, so they divided their sampling population consisting of children under 17 years old by age.
Elamin, Garemo, and Gardner (2018) performed their research to investigate the correlation between dental caries and social status, oral hygiene, and eating habits. For this purpose, children were classified by age and examined, while their parents were invited to fill a questionnaire. Hashim, Thomson, Ayers, Lewsey, and Awad (2006) intended to assess the gravity of dental caries in preschoolers and define its relation to visiting dental professionals. Therefore, they selected a random sample of 5 and 6-year-old children, examined them, and asked their parents to answer a questionnaire.
Apart from cluster sampling of the population in question, the researchers of each of the studies performed oral screening to estimate the dental health of children. The results of screening were analyzed by means of the “decayed, missing, and filled teeth index (DMFT),” the criteria established by the World Health Organization (Elamin et al., 2018, p.1). The questionnaires for parents included questions regarding demographics, socioeconomic background, food consumption, and oral hygiene.
The methods used for the described studies are suitable for researching the prevalence of dental caries of primary teeth. Oral screening is essential for any study of dental health since, without examination, no substantial results can be obtained. The use of the DMFT index for analyzing the result of the examination is justified since it is a common way of estimating dental caries prevalence. The utilization of cluster sampling for selecting the population of interest is also appropriate for research into this topic. Since it is difficult to study the whole community in question, researchers may distinguish several groups having explicit distinctions among them.
After examining each of the clusters, scholars can analyze the state of the entire population in question. Frequently, researchers use two-stage cluster sampling in their studies, which implies obtaining a simple random sample from each of the clusters. This method is especially suitable for studying the correlation between dental caries prevalence and other factors, such as socioeconomic status or eating patterns.
As for the use of questionnaires, they are the proper tool for obtaining information that cannot be received during a direct examination in medical settings. Naturally, questionnaires should be anonymous for respondents to be as honest as possible to ensure the credibility of the study. Given the advantages of the methods commonly used for researching the prevalence of dental caries of the primary teeth, it is possible to say that they are appropriate for this purpose. Therefore, the combination of cluster sampling, a questionnaire, and oral screening can be used for further studies of this issue.
References
Al‐Hosani, E., & Rugg‐Gunn, A. (2007). Combination of low parental educational attainment and high parental income related to high caries experience in pre‐school children in Abu Dhabi. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 26(1), 31-36.
Al Mashhadani, S. S., Al Khoory, T., Saleh, N. M., Fargali, K., Mathew, R., & Al Qasem, N. (2017). National survey of the oral health status of school children in Dubai, UAE. EC Dental Science, 8(2), 48-58.
Elamin, A., Garemo, M., & Gardner, A. (2018). Dental caries and their association with socioeconomic characteristics, oral hygiene practices and eating habits among preschool children in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates — the NOPLAS project. BMC Oral Health, 18(104), 1-9.
Hashim, R., Thomson, W. M., Ayers, K. M. S., Lewsey, J. D., & Awad, M. (2006). Dental caries experience and use of dental services among preschool children in Ajman, UAE. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 16(4), 257-262.