IADR Abstract Archives
Factors Associated with Carious Lesions among Young WIC-Enrolled Children
Objectives: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a pandemic disease observed in young children, especially those of low-income and minority groups in the United States. The goal of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with non-cavitated and/or cavitated lesions among children aged 12-48 months enrolled at the University of Iowa’s Infant Oral Health Program (IOHP) located at a local WIC clinic.
Methods: The charts of children aged 12-48 months enrolled at the UI IOHP were reviewed for a case-controlled cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of 394 subjects comprising of 197 children with non-cavitated and/or cavitated lesions (ECC-Group) and 197 caries-free (Caries-Free-Group), who were matched by age (±1 month) and number of teeth (±1), was included. Statistical analysis consisted of descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression analyses (alpha=0.05).
Results: Children (47.8% female, 75.4% non-Caucasian) averaged 28±10.8 months of age and averaged 18.0±3.6 teeth. Bivariate analysis revealed that when compared to the Caries-Free-Group, ECC-Group subjects were more likely to be non-Caucasian (p=0.001), have mothers with low dental health literacy (p=0.0648), be breast-fed to sleep (p=0.0302) and throughout the night (p=0.0056), as well as consume cariogenic drinks/foods at nighttime (p=0.0002) and eat sweets more than twice daily (p=0.0085). Moreover, ECC-Group subjects were more likely to be classified as high caries risk at their first IOHP appointment (p<0.0001) and have enamel defects (p=0.0032). Compared to the Caries-Free-Group, logistic regression analysis showed that ECC-Group were more likely to have parents with language barrier (OR=1.86; p=0.0143), have visible plaque on maxillary incisors (OR=3.89; p<0.0001), and have inadequate fluoride exposure (OR=2.28; p=0.0476).
Conclusions: Risk factors associated with non-cavitated and/or cavitated lesions among young children from low-income families include race, low maternal dental literacy, dietary habits, poor oral hygiene, and enamel defects. Inadequate fluoride exposure, visible plaque on maxillary incisors, and parental language barrier are significant predictors of future ECC experience.
Methods: The charts of children aged 12-48 months enrolled at the UI IOHP were reviewed for a case-controlled cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of 394 subjects comprising of 197 children with non-cavitated and/or cavitated lesions (ECC-Group) and 197 caries-free (Caries-Free-Group), who were matched by age (±1 month) and number of teeth (±1), was included. Statistical analysis consisted of descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression analyses (alpha=0.05).
Results: Children (47.8% female, 75.4% non-Caucasian) averaged 28±10.8 months of age and averaged 18.0±3.6 teeth. Bivariate analysis revealed that when compared to the Caries-Free-Group, ECC-Group subjects were more likely to be non-Caucasian (p=0.001), have mothers with low dental health literacy (p=0.0648), be breast-fed to sleep (p=0.0302) and throughout the night (p=0.0056), as well as consume cariogenic drinks/foods at nighttime (p=0.0002) and eat sweets more than twice daily (p=0.0085). Moreover, ECC-Group subjects were more likely to be classified as high caries risk at their first IOHP appointment (p<0.0001) and have enamel defects (p=0.0032). Compared to the Caries-Free-Group, logistic regression analysis showed that ECC-Group were more likely to have parents with language barrier (OR=1.86; p=0.0143), have visible plaque on maxillary incisors (OR=3.89; p<0.0001), and have inadequate fluoride exposure (OR=2.28; p=0.0476).
Conclusions: Risk factors associated with non-cavitated and/or cavitated lesions among young children from low-income families include race, low maternal dental literacy, dietary habits, poor oral hygiene, and enamel defects. Inadequate fluoride exposure, visible plaque on maxillary incisors, and parental language barrier are significant predictors of future ECC experience.