Oral Health Determinants and Caries Outcome among Non-Privileged Children

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying oral health determinants that are present in early childhood, are amenable to change and for which there is evidence of their modulation of the rate of caries progression in a sample of non-privileged children. The null hypothesis was that determinants associated with the child's institutional environment as evidenced by nursery policies significantly influenced the child's oral health. The sample was formed by 2,511 Brazilian 1-5-year-olds. Caries severity and activity were recorded. Parents were interviewed and nurseries answered a questionnaire. According to the case status d₁efs, the final multilevel model (generalized linear mixed model) identified significant associations with determinants such as bottle-feeding the child during the night on demand, not assisting the child in toothbrushing, ensuring visit to the dentist in case of troubles with teeth only (p < 0.0001) and intake of sugary products 2-4 times daily at nursery (p = 0.026). The likelihood of caries outcomes was associated with determinants related to nursery policies, not promoting preventive oral health care for children of mothers with 4 years of education (OR = 2.14; p < 0.0015) and <4 years of education (OR = 2.6; p = 0.0010), as well as consumption of sugary products 2-4 times daily for children of mothers with 4 years of education (OR = 3.35; p = 0.0010) and <4 years of education (OR = 4.07; p = 0.0063). In conclusion, determinants related to parental negative practices and to nursery policies significantly influenced children's oral health. Of particular interest was the identification of determinants considered amenable to change in connection with nursery policies towards oral health.

Prevalence of early childhood caries among 5‐year‐old children: A systematic review

“…An initial screening of the title and abstract revealed that 551 articles were duplicates and 1707 articles did not meet the inclusion criteria. Full texts of the remaining 152 articles were assessed, and 37 studies were included in the present study . No additional publications were identified from the bibliography of these 152 articles.…”

“…The included publications described the dental caries situations of the 5‐year‐old children in 16 countries/districts from six continents. Most of the studies were conducted in Asia (N = 20, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Nepal, Taiwan, and Thailand), Europe (N = 7, Greece, Germany, Italy, and UK), and in South America (N = 6, Brazil) . Two studies conducted in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia and Turkey), one in Africa (Sudan), and one in Oceania (Australia) were included.…”

“…Most of the studies were conducted in Asia (N = 20, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Nepal, Taiwan, and Thailand), [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] Europe (N = 7, Greece, Germany, Italy, and UK), [41][42][43][44][45][46][47] and in South America (N = 6, Brazil). [48][49][50][51][52][53] Two studies conducted in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia and Turkey), 54,55 one in Africa (Sudan), 56 and one in Oceania (Australia) 57 were included. Of the 37 publications, 28 were from countries/districts with high or very high HDI scores (HDI > 0.70), while only one publication was from a country with a low HDI score (HDI < 0.55) (Table 1).…”

Do Oral Health Conditions Adversely Impact Young Adults?

“…Traditionally, oral health outcomes have been measured through clinical assessments of the oral health conditions for the presence/absence of diseases as well as for the evaluation of treatments performed [López and Baelum, 2007;Oscarson et al, 2007;Montero-Martín et al, 2009;Carvalho et al, 2014]. Currently, this approach is considered limited due to a growing recognition that patient-reported outcome such as the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is an important measure of an individual's oral health, daily functioning and well-being [Sheiham and Steele, 2001;Locker, 2004;Locker and Allen, 2007;Oscarson et al, 2007;Montero-Martín et al, 2009;Krisdapong et al, 2012].…”

Effectiveness of a short web-based film targeting parental knowledge and behavior with respect to the oral health of children (Preprint)

“…Children necessarily rely on their parents with respect to oral health routines. Research suggests that oral health behaviors are not always adequately performed by parents, especially by parents with low socioeconomic status [6][7][8][9]. As the first tooth erupts at the age of six months, it is vital to encourage adequate oral health behaviors in parents as soon as the first tooth erupts.…”