Method: Data were derived from the longitudinal infant cohort of the Growing Up in Ireland study, involving a nationally representative sample of 9-month olds (N=11,134) in 2007/2008, followed-up at age 3 years (N=9,793) in 2010/2011. Data analysed, included reported dental problems, information on child health and primary caregivers’ health (PCG) when children were 9-months and 3-years of age. Standardised, valid and reliable measures were used to assess for infant/child/PCG health including the Infant Characteristics Questionnaire (ICQ), Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Parental Stress Scale and the Parental Depression Scale. Bivariate and regression analyses were carried out on statistically reweighted data to determine associations between reported dental problems and infant/child health and PCG health, controlling for socio-demographics (gender of child, gender of PCG and receipt of social welfare benefits as a proxy for socio-economic status).
Result: PCG’s reported that 302 infants (2.7%) at 9-months of age and 493 children (5.0%) at 3-years of age experienced ‘dental problems’. Reported dental problems at 9-months of age were associated with infant health - ICQ fussy-difficult score (p<0.01) and PCG health - Parental Stress Score (p<0.05) and Parental Depression (p<0.01). Reported dental problems at age 3, were associated with child health - SDQ Total Difficulties Score (p<0.05) and PCG health - Parental Stress Score PCG (p<0.01). Controlling for socio-demographic factors in regression analyses reported dental problems remained significantly associated with infant health, child health and PCG health.
Conclusion: Dental problems were reported among more than 1 in 50 infants at 9-months old, and among 1 in 20 children at age 3. Reported dental problems were associated with infant, child and PCG health.