An observational study in Dental Caries, sponsored by October University for Modern Sciences and Arts. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 6 Years to 7 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-24.
Sponsored by October University for Modern Sciences and Arts · Observational
This cross-sectional study aims to assess the prevalence of dental caries in the first permanent molars of Egyptian children aged 6 to 7 years, and to examine how this caries status relates to the children's dietary habits and oral hygiene practices. A total of 272 children will undergo a clinical oral examination, and their parents or guardians will complete a structured questionnaire covering diet, tooth-brushing habits, and socio-demographic background. The findings are intended to help identify risk factors associated with early caries in these key teeth, supporting better-targeted preventive dental care for this age group.
First permanent molars are the earliest-erupting permanent teeth and, because they emerge without replacing a primary tooth, they are particularly susceptible to plaque accumulation and early carious lesions. As they account for a large proportion of dental caries in school-aged children, their eruption period represents a critical window for preventive interventions such as pit-and-fissure sealants.
Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood worldwide, with a multifactorial etiology involving diet, sugar consumption, salivary factors, fluoride exposure, and oral hygiene behavior. In Egypt, population-level data on the caries status of first permanent molars specifically - as opposed to caries in the dentition generally - remain limited.
This study will use a cross-sectional observational design conducted in the Paediatric Dentistry Department at October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (Giza, Egypt). Children aged 6-7 years who meet the eligibility criteria (healthy, no history of radiotherapy/chemotherapy, no retained primary teeth or developmental anomalies affecting the permanent dentition, no orthodontic treatment, and provision of parental informed consent) will be enrolled.
Each participating child will receive an intraoral clinical examination using a mirror and CPI probe, following WHO Oral Health Survey (2013) criteria, to assess caries status of the first permanent molars using the DMFT index and to record eruption pattern. Parents/guardians will complete a pre-tested, structured questionnaire (translated into Arabic) capturing dietary habits, tooth-brushing frequency, flossing, sweets intake, dental check-up frequency, fluoride toothpaste use, and socio-demographic variables (child's sex, number of children in the family, parental education).
Based on a previously reported FPM caries prevalence of 5.5%, a sample size of 272 children was calculated (97% confidence interval, 3% margin of error, with finite population correction, using Epi Info v7.2.5.0)
1,171 studies on the registry are indexed under Dental Caries; 209 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 272 is above the median of 174 across 187 observational studies indexed under Dental Caries.
Browse Dental Caries studies →October University for Modern Sciences and Arts is the lead sponsor of 51 studies on the registry; 19 are open to participants now.
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children Aged 6-7 years presented to the Paediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts, and nurses residing in Giza City.
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Exclusion Criteria:
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Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
healthy children aged 6 to 7 years old to examine their first permanent molars
DMFT
Measuring DMFT index for first permanent molars
Time frame: baseline
DMFS
Measuring DMFS index for first permanent molar
Time frame: baseline
Oral hygiene habits
Assessing oral hygiene habits through questionnaire for children aged 6-7 years
Time frame: baseline
Dietary habits
Measuring Dietary habits through questionnaire for children aged 6-7 years
Time frame: baseline
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Start is estimated for Sep 2026; primary completion for Oct 2026, 1 month later.
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This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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October University for Modern Sciences and Arts