INTRODUCTION Early childhood caries represents a prevalent chronic ailment that impacts young children universally. It exerts a substantial influence on both highly developed and industrialized nations alike. Among preschool-aged children, ECC emerges as a noteworthy public health concern. Epidemiological surveys assume a pivotal role in tracking the prevalence of dental caries and evaluating the dental healthcare requirements within a community. AIM The aim of the present study was to elucidate the correlation between the ICDAS and Nvyad's criteria in assessing the prevalence of caries in 3-5 year-old children visiting a private dental institution and those belonging to the Chennai population. MATERIALS & METHOD A retrospective study was conducted among patients who sought treatment at the Department of Pedodontics within a private dental college from January 2019 to December 2023. The study involved the assessment of caries prevalence in a sample of 985 participants aged 3-5 years, utilizing the ICDAS scoring system and Nyvad's criteria. Data were organized and tabulated using Microsoft Excel before being entered into IBM SPSS software, version 23, for performing descriptive statistical analyses.