Can be Grandmother as Child’s Daytime Caregiver a Risk Factor for Higher Caries Experience in Early Childhood? A Retrospective Study

Bruna Thober Pires,Tathiane Larissa Lenzi,Djessica Pedrotti,Márcia Figueiredo Cançado,Cássia Mendes Da Silva,Fernanda Morais Ferreira

doi:10.1590/pboci.2020.150

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between child’s daytime caring person and risk for higher early childhood caries (ECC) experience. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of all clinical records (census) of children (0-3 years old) attended in a public dental clinic, which contained information about caries experience and child’s daytime caring person (mother, grandmother or others). Caries experience was dichotomized as dmft ≤ 2 or dmft >2. Data were analyzed by the chi-square ( α = 0.05). Binary logistic regression models were built . Results: From a total of 310 children, 19% of children had the grandmother as daytime caring person. There was no association between child’s daytime caring person and caries experience (p=0.32). Logistic regression analysis showed that low daytime caregiver schooling (OR: 5.76 95%CI 1.18-28.18; p=0.02) and child’s age (OR: 1.14 95% CI 1.09-1.19; p=0.00) were risk factors, and breastfeeding duration (> 9 months – OR: 0.38 95% CI 0.21-0.68; p=0.00), no nocturnal feeding (OR: 0.50 95% CI 0.27-0.91; p=0.02), and absence of sugar consumption between main meals (OR: 0.50 95% CI 0.28-0.89; p=0.02) were protection factors for ECC . Conclusion: A higher caries experience in early childhood is not associated to child’s daytime caring person. On the other hand, the higher caries experience is associated with low caregiver schooling and older children.

Highlights

Childhood caries (ECC) is defined as the presence of one or more decayed, missing or filled surfaces, in any primary tooth of a child under six years of age [1,2]
Logistic regression analysis showed that low daytime caregiver schooling (OR: 5.76 95%CI 1.18-28.18; p=0.02) and child’s age (OR: 1.14 95% CI 1.09-1.19; p=0.00) were risk factors, and breastfeeding duration (> 9 months – odds ratio (OR): 0.38 95% CI 0.21-0.68; p=0.00), no nocturnal feeding (OR: 0.50 95% CI 0.27-0.91; p=0.02), and absence of sugar consumption between main meals (OR: 0.50 95% CI 0.280.89; p=0.02) were protection factors for early childhood caries (ECC)
The higher caries experience is associated with low caregiver schooling and older children

Summary

Introduction

Childhood caries (ECC) is defined as the presence of one or more decayed (non cavitated or cavitated lesions), missing or filled (due to caries) surfaces, in any primary tooth of a child under six years of age [1,2]. Dental caries is determined by biological, behavioral, and psychosocial factors linked to an individual's environment [5]. ECC, like other forms of caries, is considered to be a biofilm-mediated, sugar-driven, multifactorial, dynamic disease that results in the imbalance of demineralization and remineralization of dental hard tissues [6]. Baby bottle and breastfeeding in the first year of age, especially if frequent and/or nocturnal, are related with ECC [7]. Early childhood is a crucial time for the development of eating behaviors and food preferences. It has been evidenced that the introduction of highly sweetened foods and drinks beyond 12 months is strongly associated with caries incidence in subsequent years [8]

Methods

Results

Conclusion