Presence of Initial Caries Lesions as a Risk Factor for Caries in Preschool Children: A Cohort Study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of initial noncavitated caries lesions on cavitated caries increment in preschool children. A 2-year cohort study was designed to include the participants of a survey on dental caries performed in 2010. Preschool children (12-59 months old) were examined for dental caries and classified as children with no caries lesions, with only initial lesions, with at least 1 moderate caries lesion, and with extensive lesions. Socioeconomic data were also collected. After 2 years, 466 children were re-examined (follow-up rate of 72.9%) only for cavitated lesions. Association between caries incidence at 2 levels of severity and caries experience and other variables was evaluated using hierarchical Poisson regression analysis. The children with moderate and extensive caries lesions at baseline presented a higher risk of presenting both outcomes than the children with no caries lesions. Nevertheless, the children with only initial lesions had a higher risk of developing at least 1 new cavitated carious lesion, but not for a more severe increment in caries. Subgroup analysis stratified by the children's age showed that the influence of the presence of initial caries lesions on cavitated caries increment was only observed in children aged 12-35 months. In conclusion, although the presence of moderate and extensive lesions at baseline is a significant predictor for cavitated caries increment after 2 years in preschool children at all ages, the presence of only initial caries lesions is also associated, but with less severe caries incidence.

Pathways influencing dental caries increment among children: A cohort study

“…Ours results are consistent with recent studies, which highlighted through longitudinal designs, the caries experience influencing the developing of future child injuries 4,20 . In our study, the standardized coefficient for the path between dental caries experience at baseline and the increment of caries lesions was highly significant ( P < .01), which supports the direct influence of this factor on subsequent records of the disease.…”

“…Household income was collected in Reais (Brazilian currency ‐ R$4.00 was equivalent to US$1.00 approximately) considering the sum of all family income and was used as a continuous variable 9 . Household crowding was evaluated through the ratio of the number of individuals by the number of rooms in the house and used as a continuous variable 20 …”

Inclusion of initial caries lesions in a population-based sample of Brazilian preschool children: Impact on estimates and treatment needs

“…Caries lesions have a dynamic evolution requiring a long time, usually many months or years. In younger children, initial caries lesions have been considered as a predictor of caries progression [27].…”

Enamel and Dentin Caries Risk Factors of Adolescents in the Context of the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS): A Longitudinal Study

“…However, it is not an ideal approach, as it is not conducive to the early prevention of dental caries. A 2-years cohort study reported not only that moderate and severe caries were associated with caries incidence but also that the initial caries were associated with caries incidence (40). To determine the initial factors for caries onset, only individuals whose D1-6MFT score was "0" were included in the further analysis.…”