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Abstract
BackgroundSevere tooth decay is known to affect the health and well-being of young children. However, little is known about the influence of Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) on childhood nutritional status. The purpose of this study was to contrast ferritin and haemoglobin levels between preschoolers with S-ECC and caries-free controls.MethodsChildren were recruited as part of a larger case–control study examining differences in nutritional status between those with and without S-ECC. Preschoolers with S-ECC were recruited on the day of their dental surgery, while caries-free controls were recruited from the community. Parents completed a questionnaire and the child underwent venipuncture. The study was approved by the University’s Health Research Ethics Board. Statistics included descriptive, bivariate and logistic regression analyses. A p value ≤ .05 was significant. A total of 266 children were recruited; 144 with S-ECC and 122 caries-free.ResultsThe mean age was 40.8 ± 14.1 months. The mean ferritin concentration for all children was 29.6 ± 17.9 μg/L while the mean haemoglobin level was 115.1 ± 10.1 g/L. Children with S-ECC were significantly more likely to have low ferritin (p=.033) and low haemoglobin levels (p>.001). Logistic regression analyses revealed that children with S-ECC were nearly twice as likely to have low ferritin levels and were over six times more likely to have iron deficiency anaemia than caries-free controls.ConclusionsChildren with S-ECC appear to be at significantly greater odds of having low ferritin status compared with caries-free children and also appear to have significantly lower haemoglobin levels than the caries-free control group. Children with S-ECC also appear to be at significantly greater odds for iron deficiency anaemia than cavity-free children.
Highlights
Severe tooth decay is known to affect the health and well-being of young children
While several studies suggest that children with S-Early Childhood Caries (ECC) are underweight, new evidence suggests that these individuals fall at either extreme of the normal distribution for body mass index (BMI) [13]
T- test analysis revealed that ferritin levels did not differ significantly between the groups (29.1 ± 18.4 μg/L Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) vs. 30.2 ± 17.4 caries-free, p=.62)
Summary
Severe tooth decay is known to affect the health and well-being of young children. Little is known about the influence of Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) on childhood nutritional status. Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) is defined as the presence of any smooth surface caries for children under the age of 3 and the presence of one or more smooth. Childhood Caries (ECC) is a broad definition of any decay in the primary dentition of children < 72 months of age. While dental surgery is the most common day surgical procedure at most Canadian pediatric hospitals [9,10], we know little about the influence of S-ECC on childhood nutritional status. While several studies suggest that children with S-ECC are underweight, new evidence suggests that these individuals fall at either extreme of the normal distribution for body mass index (BMI) [13]
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