Longitudinal evaluation of determinants of the clinical consequences of untreated dental caries in early childhood.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate whether the trajectory of family income, parental education and clinical variables are associated with the clinical consequences of untreated dental caries among children. A prospective cohort study was conducted with 439 children between one and three years of age, evaluated at baseline and re-evaluated after three years. Sociodemographic and economic variables, untreated dental caries and biofilm were investigated both at baseline and at the 3-year follow-up. The pufa index (pulpal involvement, ulceration, fistula and abscess) was used to diagnose the clinical consequences of untreated dental caries. The prevalence of pufa ≥1 was 18.2% in the follow-up. The following variables were associated with a higher risk of clinical consequences of untreated dental caries: mother's low schooling level at baseline and follow-up (RR=1.51; 95% CI: 1.04-2.18), incidence or baseline presence of biofilm (RR=4.66; 95% CI: 2.02-10.74), cavitated dental caries at baseline (RR=3.57; 95% CI:1.86 to 6.83) and incidence of cavitated dental caries (RR=2.04; 95% CI: 1.24-3.35). Low maternal schooling level, biofilm, cavitated dental caries at baseline, and incidence of dental caries were the factors determining the consequences of untreated dental caries.