Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a public health problem due to its impact on children’s health,
development and well being. Little is known about early childhood oral health in the West Indies or the influence
of social and behavioural factors on the prevalence and severity of early childhood caries in this preschool
population. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence and severity of ECC in preschool children in a
region of central Trinidad and to explore its relationship with social and behavioural factors.