The etiology of early
childhood caries (ECC) is known to be multi-factorial. Longitudinal studies are
more able to follow the changes of ECC progression and its related risk factors
than cross-sectional studies.
Objectives: To describe and relate
ECC with feeding habits,
oral health behaviors,
dental and socioeconomic status of the caretaker
among infants aged 9-18 months old
in Thepa, Songkhla, Thailand
.
Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted among 795 children
born between November 2000 and October 2001. Dental examinations were carried
out by 5 dentists using WHO criteria for all the eligible subjects at the ages
of 9, 12, and 18 months old. Dental
caries was categorized to be enamel caries (d1), dentine caries (d2) and caries
involving pulp (d3). Oral health behaviors and socioeconomic status were
collected by interview from the mothers or the main caretakers.
Results: The average
number of teeth in children of 9, 12 and 18 months was 2.2±2.1, 5.5±2.6 and
10.4±3.6 teeth/child, respectively. The prevalence and severity of caries had increased
by age (Table).
|
Age (months)
|
N
|
ds
|
d1s
|
d1/ds
(%)
|
d2s
|
d2/ds
(%)
|
d3s
|
d3/ds
(%)
|
|
9
|
570
|
0.06
|
0.06
|
95
|
0.003
|
5
|
0.00
|
0
|
|
12
|
497
|
1.08
|
0.95
|
88
|
0.13
|
12
|
0.00
|
0
|
|
18
|
444
|
5.10
|
3.30
|
65
|
1.70
|
33
|
0.09
|
2
|
The logistic regression
analysis showed that the increments of caries affected surfaces (ds) during the
period of 12-18 months old was associated with prolong breastfeeding (OR=2.38,
95%CI 1.38-4.16), mother's dental status (OR=1.70, 95%CI 1.02-2.84) and the mother's
or caretaker's education (OR=2.0, 95%CI 1.26-3.40), whereas frequency of tooth
brushing and socioeconomic status were not significant.
Conclusion: There was a sharp increase in caries affected surfaces
and the severity of caries lesions progressed aggressively. High caries rates
were associated with the type of milk feeding, mother's dental status and
mother's or caretaker's education.
Financial
support from Prince of Songkla University, the Thailand Research Fund: MRG4780013 and Thai
Health Promotion Foundation: 48-00-0286