Abstract: Objective To analysis the variables associated with deciduous dental caries for risk assessment, and provide the scientific foundation for preventing deciduous dental caries, particularly for the high-risk caries children′s oral health care. Methods The sampling method was multi-stage, stratified and whole flock in this study. The questionnaire was designed for aged 3 to 6 years old children to determine causing factors of caries on the aspects of growth, eating habits, oral behavior, family situation, living environment and interventions. These factors were analyzed by χ² test, then Logistic forward regression was applied to select the interrelated ones and regression model was established. Results The prevalence of dental caries, dmft, dmfs of 3 to 6 years old children in Xiamen city was 71.77%, 4.70, 7.43, respectively. There was significant relationship between deciduous dental caries and age, frequency of consumption of carbonated drinks, eating before sleep, frequency of consumption of milky products, age to start brushing, education level of parents, nursery school type, residence, oral health knowledge of parents, topical fluoride, children number, frequency of consumption of sweet food. Gender, brushing frequency per day, income of family and the type of toothpaste were not found statistically significant in this study. Caries regression model was established and could predict the risk of children suffering from caries. Conclusion Prevention of caries in children should be integrate control. Culturing scientific dietary habits from childhood,
strengthening dental care guidance for parent, and using topical fluoride can prevent caries effectively.

Key words: dental caries, primary teeth, risk factor, regression analysis