Is There an Association between Low Birth Weight and Caries in the Primary Dentition?

Abstract

Objectives: An association between low birth weight and caries in the primary dentition has been suggested but not demonstrated. This study analyzed this association using data from a probability sample of US children 2–6 years of age. Methods: Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) were used. Variables included decayed and filled primary surfaces (dfs), birth weight, gestational age, and Apgar score (a surrogate measure of fetal well-being); maternal age, education, income; number of previous births, marital status, the existence of pregnancy complications, and cigarette smoking during the pregnancy. Data were analyzed using SUDAAN 8.0.2. Results: Bivariate Poisson regression showed that children of mothers who were unmarried (incidence density ratio, IDR = 3.28), with less education (IDR = 1.43), who were 17 years of age or younger at birth (IDR = 1.51), and had 2 or fewer prenatal visits (IDR = 1.65) had a significantly ( p <0.05) greater risk of caries than the reference groups. Children of mothers with pregnancy-related hypertension (IDR = 0.14) had less than 20% the risk of caries than the reference group. Blacks (IDR = 1.37) and Mexican-Americans (IDR = 2.38) had greater risk of caries than whites, and children of low (IDR = 2.57) and middle income (IDR = 2.00) level families had higher caries risks than those of upper income families. Multivariate Poisson regression found only race-ethnicity, age, and income level to be statistically significant. Conclusions: This study did not support the association between low birth weight and caries of the primary dentition.

Association Between Dental Caries in Primary Dentition with Low Birth Weight and Premature Birth: A Case-Control Study

“…However, their results relating to the correlation between DMFT and preterm birth were similar to previous findings, showing no associations (9). On the other hand, Shulman (20) did not find any association between low birth weight and caries.…”

“…A less smooth, less mineralized enamel might be more prone to caries (7,15). Nevertheless, this study as well as some others, showed that these items were not correlated (12,14,15,19,20).…”

“…However, exposure to X-ray without treatment or screening needs and merely for research purposes might not be ethical (25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31). Due to that limitation and lack of cooperation of govern- (20,32). Another limiting factor was lack of proper light and examination settings.…”

“…Some studies indicate the link between low birth weight and dental caries (7,9,(16)(17)(18), while some studies reported insignificant association (12,14,15,19,20). Besides, previous studies did not assess premature birth and low birth weight as separate variables (7,9,12,(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20). Therefore, this study was conducted to test whether children with higher caries rates have had lower birth weights and premature births or not.…”

Prevalência de cárie dentária em crianças de seis a 60 meses e fatores associados, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brasil

“…Alguns estudos verificaram que crianças com baixo peso ou desnutridas apresentam maior prevalência de cárie dentária 6,15 . Entretanto, outros estudos que avaliaram a associação entre o número de dentes cariados e o estado nutricional infantil não encontraram associação significativa 12,16,17 assim como no presente estudo. A ausência de associação pode ter ocorrido pela maior prevalência de alterações no estado nutricional em crianças mais novas que apresentam menor prevalência de cárie dentária.…”