Dental caries and externalizing behaviour problems in a high‐risk child population

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the association between externalizing behaviour problems and dental caries in children. A further objective was to explore direct and indirect pathways between sociodemographic factors, family functioning and parenting factors, oral health behaviours, externalizing behaviour problems, and dental caries using structural equation modelling. Cross‐sectional data were collected on 251, 5‐ to 8‐yr‐old children from a paediatric dental practice in the Netherlands. Children's decayed, missing, and filled primary teeth (dmft) scores were obtained from their dental records. Validated self‐report questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic, behavioural, and family‐related data. Externalizing problem behaviour was significantly associated with a higher dmft score [incidence risk ratio (IRR) = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.06–1.34], but this association did not remain significant after adjustment for sociodemographic factors (IRR = 1.11; 95% CI: 0.99–1.26). A valid path model was presented after applying some modifications. Findings from the model suggest that it is plausible that child behaviour problems are directly associated with dental caries via toothbrushing behaviour. The model also provided support that maternal education level, the restrictiveness and warmth of parenting, and the communication of the family, play an indirect role in the association between children's externalizing behavioural problems and dental caries experience.

Tooth-Level Analysis of Dental Caries in Primary Dentition in Myanmar Children

“…The prevalence pattern of dental caries varies with age and sex [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. It depends on race, geographical location, socioeconomic status, nutrition habits, oral hygiene practices, and oral microbiome [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. There are twenty teeth in the primary dentition.…”

Acquisition and establishment of the oral microbiota

“…One behavioral aspect that certainly influences the oral microbial communities at any age, is the level of oral hygiene. The age when parents started brushing the teeth of their children correlated with caries prevalence in 5-to 8-year-old children, 119 supporting the advice to start toothbrushing as soon as the first tooth begins to erupt.…”

“…One behavioral aspect that certainly influences the oral microbial communities at any age, is the level of oral hygiene. The age when parents started brushing the teeth of their children correlated with caries prevalence in 5‐ to 8‐year‐old children, 119 supporting the advice to start toothbrushing as soon as the first tooth begins to erupt. Poor oral hygiene was associated with a more diverse salivary microbiome, with reduced levels of streptococci and increased species of the genus Veillonella in 7‐ to 15‐year‐old Thai children, 120 and with a more diverse supragingival plaque microbiome, enriched in the genera Corynebacterium , Leptotrichia, Porphyromonas, and Selenomonas , and depleted in the genera Neisseria, Actinomyces , Streptococcus , and Rothia , in 6‐ to 14‐year‐old Dutch children 121 …”

Family functioning and dental caries among preschool children

“…Data modeling was informed by a theoretical model detailing family and individual-level determinants of child dental caries [3]. A set of confounders was chosen for their role as common causes of family functioning and child dental caries in previous studies [16][17][18]. They were parental and child demographic factors and family SES indicators.…”

“…Only three studies have evaluated the association of family functioning with child dental caries to date, with inconsistent findings [16][17][18]. A study among 630 5-6-year-olds from six pediatric dental clinics in Netherlands found that poorer scores in the five family functioning dimensions (communication, organization, responsiveness, partner-relation, and social network) of the Family Questionnaire were associated with greater caries experience at bivariate level.…”