Compliance with AAPD guidelines on Infant Oral Health Care

Objectives: This study investigates the association between cmpliance with AAPD guidelines on infant oral health care (first dental visit by 12 months of age, tooth-brushing twice a day, limiting sugar-containing snacks or drinks) and early childhood caries (ECC).
Methods: The data was collected as part of a longitudinal study to assess the effect of birth group (Very Low Birth Weight vs. Normal Birth Weight) on ECC. Data from 287 children and their parents who completed all three visits (8-month, 18-month and 36-month) was analyzed for this study. Compliance with AAPD guidelines and parental characteristics were measured by self-administered questionnaires at the 8-month and 18-month visits. ECC was measured by the number of decayed and filled teeth at the 36-month visit.
Results: About 37% of parents complied with the dental visit guideline (by 12 months of age), 49% complied with oral hygiene guideline (tooth-brushing twice a day), and 28% complied with the diet guideline (limited sugary snacks and drinks). Only 4% of parents complied with all three guidelines. There was no significant difference in the compliance rate by parents’ socio-economic status (high vs. low), race/ethnicity (Caucasian, African-American, others), and marital status (married vs. others). Parents of the very low birth weight group were more likely to comply with the dental visit guideline compared to those of the normal birth weight group (p ≤.01). Children who complied with the diet guideline (0.75 ± 1.59) had a significantly lower mean number of decayed and filled teeth compared to children who did not (1.39 ± 2.88).
Conclusions: This study found that only few parents comply with all AAPD guidelines on infant oral health. Among the three guidelines, the diet guideline had the lowest compliance rate and non-compliance with this guideline was associated with higher prevalence of early childhood caries.