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Abstract
To examine the prevalence of dental caries in 9 - 12 year old schoolchildren from Alanbar and to investigate related dental caries risk factors including gender, socio - demographic factors, oral hygiene and sugar intake. A cross - sectional dental caries examination and questionnaire survey was conducted in 20 schools from west of Iraq (Alanbar governorate. Dental examinations based on WHO criteria and questionnaire surveys were performed on 2500 children. Variable socio - economic conditions (urban and rural), and classified into 2 main groups (boys and girls): The mean DMF was 2.65 and def was 3.44. The rate of caries experience (DMFT > 0) was 95.76%. DMF and def of boys were 2.58 and 2.46 respectively. While DMF and def of girls were 2.81 and 3.74 respectively, increased significantly explained by the fact that generally there is a trend towards earlier permanent teeth eruption in girls than boys and thus they are exposed to risk factors for dental caries for a longer period of time than boys. Increased sugar consumption was associated with being a boy, living in a low socio - economic area and brushing at least once - a - day. Positive oral hygiene practices were higher for girls. Western sweet snacks were preferred and drinking carbonate beverages was frequently consumed. It is important to maintain the low prevalence of caries among children by increasing awareness and promoting oral health care strategies