Study on the Relationship between Affected Dental Caries of Deciduous Teeth and Physical Development in 3-year-old Children in Tokyo

Abstract

Statistical observations conducted on the relationship between the prevalence of caries in deciduous teeth and bodily physical development in 1065 children between 3 years and 3 years and 1 month of age living in Tokyo between June 1963 and August 1964 revealed the following results.1. Relationship between the prevalence of caries in deciduous teeth and the Kaup index.The relationship between types of caries experience A, B and C in 3-year-old children according to the guide for dental health by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Japanese Government and the Kaup index classified into 5 groups, from 13 to 17 failed to show a significant difference among the groups. The ratio of types A, B and C was 2: 3: 0.5.No significant difference was noted in each group according to the author's classification based on the number of carious teeth, type a (free carious teeth), type b (1-4 carious teeth), type c (5-8 carious teeth), type d (9-12 carious teeth), type e (more than 13 carious teeth). However, those with a low index or under poor nutritional conditions had numerous caries. The ratio of types b, c, d and e was 3: 4: 2: 0.5 except in groups 13 and 17.The caries prevalence rate, the average number of carious teeth per child and the rate of carious teeth per total teeth present were calculated for each of the groups of caries classified according to the symptoms such as untreated teeth, caries 1st degree, caries 2nd degree and caries 3rd degree. In untreated teeth, C2 and C3, the group with a low index gave a significantly higher rate than the group with a high index.2. Relationship between the prevalence of caries and body length at birth and growth of body length from birth until the present.No relationship was found between the type of prevalence of caries and body length at birth and subsequent growth in body length. In the group with a short body length at birth, types a and e were frequently found in the number of carious teeth, but there was no significant difference in the degree of growth.In untreated caries and caries separated according to symptoms, the group with large body length at the time of birth showed a somewhat higher rate of prevalence. In the degree of growth, as in the number of caries, no significant difference was found.3. Relationship between the prevalence of carious teeth and body weight at birth and growth of body weight from birth until the present.No positive correlation was noted between the type of prevalence of caries and body weight at birth and growth of body weight. In the type of caries number, types d and e appeared less frequently in children with good development of body weight.In the untreated carious teeth and carious teeth according to symptoms, the ratio of caries was high in those with high body weight at birth. Regardless of the body weight at birth, the ratio of carious teeth was high in those with current poor development. The appearance of severe caries was especially high. Such a relationship was more pronounced in body weight than in body length.