Background: Dental caries remains one of the most prevalent chronic diseases among children and poses a significant public health challenge, particularly during the mixed dentition period. The first permanent molars are highly susceptible to caries because of their early eruption and complex occlusal morphology. Assessment of caries experience using the dmft and DMFT indices, along with associated demographic, behavioural, and parental factors, is essential for planning preventive oral health strategies.

Objective: To assess the dental caries experience in the primary dentition (dmft) and first permanent molars (DMFT) and evaluate their association with demographic characteristics, oral hygiene practices, parental education, and occupation among 6–8-year-old school children in Maharashtra.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 350 school children aged 6–8 years from selected public and private schools in Pune and Solapur, Maharashtra. Clinical examinations were performed using a mouth mirror and CPI probe under natural light. Dental caries was recorded using the WHO-modified dmft index for primary teeth and DMFT index for first permanent molars. Demographic information, oral hygiene practices, parental education and occupation, and gingival characteristics were recorded using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0. Independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Spearman’s rank correlation were applied, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: Among 350 children (mean age 7.07 ± 0.74 years), father’s education and mother’s occupation were significantly associated with dmft, while flossing practice was significantly associated with DMFT. Father’s education showed a weak inverse correlation with DMFT (ρ = −0.117, p = 0.029), whereas brushing frequency showed no significant association with caries experience.

Conclusion: Dental caries was common in both primary teeth and first permanent molars among 6–8-year-old school children. Caries experience was associated with some parental and oral hygiene factors, highlighting the importance of early identification of risk factors and timely preventive dental care during the mixed dentition period.