IADR Abstract Archives
Identification of Caries Risk Determinants in Toddlers
Objectives: This study aimed to identify potential risk determinants leading to early childhood caries (ECC) and visible plaque (VP) in toddlers.
Methods: Sociodemographic, behavioral/environmental, medical, and dietary data for mother-child pairs participating in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) birth cohort were collected from pregnancy to toddlerhood. A total of 535 two-year-old children underwent an oral examination measuring ECC/VP using International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS-II) and modified Silness-Löe plaque index. Following logistic regression, bivariate probit regression was subsequently used to concomitantly accommodate ECC and VP as primary and secondary outcomes, respectively.
Results: Approximately 18% of the children presented ECC at age 2, which was significantly associated with Chinese ethnicity (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.1-7.8), maternal childbearing age (≥34 years) (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.2-8.2), maternal health condition(s) before/during pregnancy (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.96), sufficient prenatal folate levels (≥6 ng/mL) (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1-0.9), nocturnal breast-feeding in the first 3 weeks (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.6-10.4), higher child BMI at age 2 (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7), pediatric dental visits (≥once) (OR, 6.0; 95% CI, 1.4-25.7), child’s brushing frequency (≥once/day) (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.4-12.6) and high VP score (>1) (OR, 9.2; 95% CI, 2.7-31.0). Visible plaque was associated with weaning onto solids by 9 months (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.6), caregiver’s belief in the importance of baby teeth (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.2-0.6), pediatric dental visits (OR, 0.01; 95% CI, 0.01-0.02) and child’s brushing frequency (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.98).
Conclusions: Maternal and child’s biopsychobehavioral factors may affect plaque accumulation and thus ECC. Early intervention coupled with modification of risk determinants may prevent ECC among toddlers.
Methods: Sociodemographic, behavioral/environmental, medical, and dietary data for mother-child pairs participating in the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) birth cohort were collected from pregnancy to toddlerhood. A total of 535 two-year-old children underwent an oral examination measuring ECC/VP using International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS-II) and modified Silness-Löe plaque index. Following logistic regression, bivariate probit regression was subsequently used to concomitantly accommodate ECC and VP as primary and secondary outcomes, respectively.
Results: Approximately 18% of the children presented ECC at age 2, which was significantly associated with Chinese ethnicity (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.1-7.8), maternal childbearing age (≥34 years) (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.2-8.2), maternal health condition(s) before/during pregnancy (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.96), sufficient prenatal folate levels (≥6 ng/mL) (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1-0.9), nocturnal breast-feeding in the first 3 weeks (OR, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.6-10.4), higher child BMI at age 2 (OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.7), pediatric dental visits (≥once) (OR, 6.0; 95% CI, 1.4-25.7), child’s brushing frequency (≥once/day) (OR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.4-12.6) and high VP score (>1) (OR, 9.2; 95% CI, 2.7-31.0). Visible plaque was associated with weaning onto solids by 9 months (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.6), caregiver’s belief in the importance of baby teeth (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.2-0.6), pediatric dental visits (OR, 0.01; 95% CI, 0.01-0.02) and child’s brushing frequency (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4-0.98).
Conclusions: Maternal and child’s biopsychobehavioral factors may affect plaque accumulation and thus ECC. Early intervention coupled with modification of risk determinants may prevent ECC among toddlers.