Are distinctive risk indicators associated with different stages of caries in children? A cross-sectional study

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Maria Grazia Cagetti¹  Gianfranco Meloni²  Silvana Sale³  Giovanna Congiu³  Guglielmo Campus⁴  Fabio Cocco⁴ 

[1] Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy;WHO Collaboration Centre for Epidemiology and Community Dentistry, Milan, Italy;Department of Surgery, Microsurgery and Medicine Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/C, I-07100, Sassari, Italy;WHO Collaboration Centre for Epidemiology and Community Dentistry, Milan, Italy;WHO Collaboration Centre for Epidemiology and Community Dentistry, Milan, Italy;Department of Surgery, Microsurgery and Medicine Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43/C, I-07100, Sassari, Italy;

关键词: Dental caries;    Children;    Risk indicators;    Caries staging;    Feeding practice;    Socio-economic status;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-016-3865-4

 received in 2016-02-09, accepted in 2016-11-23,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundActual caries figures emphasize the need to identify the risk indicators involved in the disease’s development. The hypothesis that certain risk indicators might affect the dynamic evolution of the caries process was assessed; to clarify this premise, a cross-sectional survey was performed in school children.MethodsA total of 390 subjects aged 6–8 years old were randomly selected. Caries was assessed, and the subjects were stratified as follows: i) highest caries score; ii) most prevalent caries score; and iii) number of affected teeth. Parents/guardians completed a questionnaire regarding vital statistics, socio-economic indicators, dietary habits, oral hygiene habits and oral health behaviours.ResultsCaries was detected in 42.31% of the subjects. Maternal nationality, parental education level, use of a sweetened pacifier at night, intake of lactose-free milk and toothbrushing frequency were statistically significant associated (p < 0.05) with subjects stratified according to the highest caries score. Parental educational level, maternal occupational status and use of a sweetened pacifier at night were associated (p < 0.05) with affected children stratified according to the most prevalent caries score. Maternal educational level and intake of lactose-free milk were associated with subjects with moderate caries stages compared to being caries-free (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). Maternal nationality (p < 0.01) and toothbrushing frequency (p = 0.01) were associated with subjects affected by extensive lesions compared to caries-free children. In subjects affected by initial lesions as the most prevalent figure, gender (male) and paternal occupation status (unemployed) were statistically significant associated (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively) compared to those affected by highest prevalence of extensive caries lesions. In children with the highest prevalence of moderate caries lesions, maternal education level (p < 0.01), paternal occupational status (p = 0.03) and use of a sweetened pacifier at night (p < 0.01) were statistically significantly associated.ConclusionsMaternal nationality, maternal low level of education, intake of lactose-free milk and low toothbrushing frequency were involved in the change from caries-free status to different caries stages. Gender, paternal unemployment, maternal low educational level and use of a sweetened pacifier were correlated with caries progression, showing how distinctive risk indicators were associated with different caries stages.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016