Influence of mothers' employment on oral health of their child

Methods: Questionnaire survey of 429 first-time mothers in metropolitan Adelaide and dental examinations of their child at 20 months of age.

Results:  At 20 ± 2.5 months of age, 5.6% of children exhibited S-ECC defined as one or more demineralized or cavitated lesions on the upper incisors. Of the mothers, 52.2 % had no paid employment, 39.6 % were part-time and 8,2 % full-time employed. Overall, mothers’ participation in the workforce had no influence on the frequency of S-ECC in their child, but there was a significant interaction with family structure. For mothers without employment there was no difference between single and two parent families, but children with a working, single mother more frequently exhibited S-ECC than those with a working mother and a two parent family (P < 0.04). Conclusions: The data suggest that single mothers and especially those in the workforce may need extra assistance and support to prevent severe early childhood caries in their child.