Objectives: To evaluate an early childhood caries (ECC) prevention program for infants and toddlers using microbial screening as a primary caries risk assessment (CRA) tool. Methods: Prevention group: 109 dentate children aged 6-15 mos. at the initial visit, who presented at an inner-city well-child clinic in Baltimore, MD for medical check-ups. Comparison group:110 children 12 months older than the prevention group (18-27 mos.) at the same clinic. CRA was based on clinical caries status, parent questionnaire data and oral mutans streptococci (MS) counts using conventional culturing. High risk children (MS >1000 on teeth or tongues, or caries) were recalled for 5.0% fluoride varnish treatments. All care-givers received caries prevention training and counseling. Both groups of children received fluoride varnish at least every 6 months and referrals for dental treatment if needed. After 26 mos. the prevention group was compared to the comparison group (initial visit). Data consisted of MS counts and clinical caries measurements. Results: Prevention group: mean age 24.3(±5.7) mos., MS counts 1.8x104 (±7.0 x104), dmfs 0.09(±0.07), 2/109 with clinical caries. Comparison group: mean age 22.5(±3.8) mos., MS counts 15.6x104 (±640x104), dmfs 1.13(±3.75), 19/110 with clinical caries. Caries and MS data both were significantly different p<0.02. Evaluation of MS counts to predict caries or no caries longitudinally showed 64% sensitivity and 98% specificity. Conclusions: 1) This program design appears promising for ECC prevention of high risk inner-city populations at well-child or similar facilities. 2) Microbial screening as a CRA tool appeared useful for young children before caries was detected clinically, and with a population in which socioeconomic and behavioral caries risk factors did not discriminate the subjects. Supported by a grant from The Thomas Wilson Sanitarium for Children of Baltimore City.
Division: IADR/AADR/CADR General Session
Meeting:2007 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session (New Orleans, Louisiana) Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Year: 2007 Final Presentation ID:2163 Abstract Category|Abstract Category(s):Cariology Research
Authors
Minah, Glenn
( University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
)
Lin, Christina
( University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore, MD, USA
)
Coors, Sarah
( University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore, MD, USA
)
Rambob, Isabel
( University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore, MD, USA
)
Tinanoff, Norman
( University of Maryland Dent. School, Baltimore, MD, USA
)
Grossman, Lindsey K.
( University of Maryland at Baltimore, Bethesda, MD, USA
)
SESSION INFORMATION
Poster Session
Epidemiology and caries risk factors
03/23/2007