Early Childhood Caries Status Research Articles

A scoping review linking early childhood caries to violence, neglect, internally displaced, migrant and refugee status

BackgroundThe aim of the scoping review was to identify and synthesize the available literature concerning the relationship between the status of refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and Early Childhood Caries (ECC) as it relates to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16).MethodsData regarding the links between the status of refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) and Early Childhood Caries (ECC), and the associations between ECC and maternal and child exposure to physical and sexual abuse, insecurity, crime, exploitation, torture, and displacement were extracted. The search was carried out in January 2023 across three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus). Only publications in English with accessible full texts were included. Descriptive statistics were utilized to summarize the categories of the retrieved papers, and graphical representation was employed for visualization purposes. The relationships between the publications and each of the 10 targets of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16) were also assessed.ResultsForty-five studies were reviewed. Most studies (42.2%) originated from the Americas Regions, while no studies were identified from the Africa Region. A significant portion (46.7%) of the papers focused on abuse, violence, and neglect as risk factors for ECC. Migrants, refugees, and IDPs were the most investigated populations (44.4%). Only one study specifically focused on IDPs and migrants respectively. The prevalence of untreated caries was higher among migrants, refugees, and IDPs compared to the host community, ECC was more prevalent among children who experienced abuse, neglect, or were in protective care. The was no clear direction on the associations between ECC and intimate partner violence, adverse childhood experiences, and wars. In terms of the SDGs, the reviewed publications addressed four targets (SDG16.1, SDG16.2, SDG16.3, and SDG16.5) out of the ten targets outlined in SDG 16.ConclusionThere is available evidence regarding the connections between ECC and war, refugees, migration, violence, and neglect, as outlined in SDG 16. Future studies are needed to investigate how forced movements directly affects ECC status, how disruptions of peace and stability is a risk factor for ECC, and the associations between ECC and other indicators related to SDG 16 targets.

Association of temperament with oral health behaviour and caries status in Thai preschool children.

Temperament associated with oral health behaviour and early childhood caries (ECC) in preschoolers remains inconclusive. This cross-sectional study investigated the association of temperament with oral health behaviour and ECC status. A total of 421 Thai preschoolers were recruited from elementary schools in Chonburi Province, Thailand. Their caregivers assessed three temperament dimensions (surgency, negative affectivity and effortful control) using the Thai version of the Children's Behaviour Questionnaire Very Short Form and reported oral health behaviours (brushing cooperation and cariogenic snack frequency). Three calibrated dentists assessed ECC status using the modified WHO dmft/dmfs (decayed, missing and filled teeth/surface) index that included noncavitated and cavitated carious lesions. Multiple regression analysis, after adjusting for child's and caregiver's characteristics, revealed that children with high negative affectivity or low effortful control were more likely to have uncooperative brushing behaviour. The temperament scores of children who consumed cariogenic snacks daily and those who did not were comparable. Children with low surgency, high negative affectivity or low effortful control were more likely to have high dmfs scores. Negative affectivity and effortful control were associated with brushing behaviour. Temperament was not associated with the frequency of cariogenic snack consumption. All temperamental dimensions, however, were associated with ECC.

ECC Status, CRAFT Categorization and OHRQoL Assessment in 3-6-year-old Children: A Cross-sectional Study.

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) can affect the health and quality of life of the children. Assessing a patient's risk of developing caries is an important aspect of caries management; however, can assessing the caries risk predict the impact of ECC on the OHRQoL? Few Indian studies have reported association between caries status, risk, and the impact on OHRQoL. To assess the association between dental caries status, risk assessment, and OHRQoL in 3-6-year-old children. A total of 50 healthy children were recruited in a cross-sectional study. Parents filled the ECOHIS questionnaire. Caries status, risk, and OHRQoL were measured as dmft-pufa, CRAFT (Caries Risk Assessment for Treatment- an indigenous tool) and ECOHIS scores, respectively. Moderate correlation was seen between dmft and ECOHIS scores (r = 0.496, p < 0.01), and pufa and ECOHIS scores (r = 0.408, p < 0.05). More number of subjects with higher scores of ECOHIS were in the high-risk category of CRAFT (p < 0.05). Caries status, risk and OHRQoL were associated in 3-6-year-old children. Thus, caries risk assessment may predict poor OHRQoL. Iyer CR, Jawdekar AM. ECC Status, CRAFT Categorization and OHRQoL Assessment in 3-6-year-old Children: A Cross-sectional Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2023;16(2):199-204.

Differences in Early Childhood Caries Status on Parental Stress Levels and Socioeconomic Status in Makassar City, Indonesia, During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Differences in Early Childhood Caries Status on Parental Stress Levels and Socioeconomic Status in Makassar City, Indonesia, During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Oral Health Policies to Tackle the Burden of Early Childhood Caries: A Review of 14 Countries/Regions.

Aim: Early childhood caries (ECC) has significant public health implications but has received inadequate global attention. There is limited information regarding the success of oral health policies implemented to address the challenges of ECC. This review aimed to summarize such policies to tackle ECC from different countries/regions.Method: Independent collaborators from 14 countries/regions (Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nigeria, Thailand, UK, USA, and Venezuela) collected the data. The ECC status, dental workforce, oral health policies on ECC prevention in different countries/regions were summarized by each country.Results: The findings indicated that ECC prevalence varied in different countries/regions. The lowest prevalence of ECC among 5-year-old children was found in Nigeria (7%), and the highest was found in Indonesia (90%). The existing dental workforce and resources are limited in most countries. The smallest dentist to population ratio was reported by Nigeria at 1:48,400, whereas the highest ratio was in Brazil (1:600). Out of 14, three (21%) countries namely India, Venezuela and Cambodia had no national oral health policies addressing ECC and four (29%) countries (Cambodia, China, India, Venezuela) had no publicly funded dental care program for 0–5-year-old children. Water fluoridation is available in four countries/regions (Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, USA).Conclusion: ECC remains a global health challenge and dental workforce is limited. National/regional programs to tackle ECC are not yet prioritized in many countries/regions. Evidence to support demonstration projects is limited. Further research on the cost-effectiveness of interventions strategies is required for policymakers.

Body mass index and dental caries in New Zealand pre-school children: A population-based study.

Pre-school dental caries is a significant public health problem and may be associated with the growth and nutritional status of children. This study aimed to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and early childhood caries (ECC) among pre-school children. This population-based retrospective study involves all 5-year-old children who resided in northern New Zealand and received school entry dental examinations between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2015. ECC status was determined with the decayed missing filled teeth (dmft) score obtained from a routinely collected regional dental data set. Objectively measured BMI information was obtained from the 'Before School Check' (B4SC) Programme. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and the occurrence of ECC (dmft score ≥ 1). Ethnic subgroup analyses were also conducted. Of the 27 333 children involved in this analysis, 11 173 (40.9%) had ECC with a mean dmft score of 1.85, and 3948 (14.4%) were overweight and 2964 (10.8%) were obese at school entry. The prevalence of ECC was higher in overweight and obese children but in subgroup analyses by ethnicity, this positive association was observed in European children only (adjusted odds ratio for overweight children compared to normal weight children: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.32 and adjusted odds ratio for obese children: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.45). ECC is highly prevalent in New Zealand children and associated with higher BMI in children of European ethnicity.

Validation of maternal report of early childhood caries status in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

BackgroundTo determine the validity of maternal reports of the presence of early childhood caries (ECC), and to identify maternal variables that increase the accuracy of the reports.MethodsThis secondary data analysis included 1155 mother–child dyads, recruited through a multi-stage sampling household approach in Ile-Ife Nigeria. Survey data included maternal characteristics (age, monthly income, decision-making ability) and maternal perception about whether or not her child (age 6 months to 5 years old) had ECC. Presence of ECC was clinically determined using the dmft index. Maternally reported and clinically determined ECC presence were compared using a chi-squared test. McNemar's test was used to assess the similarity of maternal and clinical reports of ECC. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, absolute bias, relative bias and inflation factor were calculated. Statistical significance was determined at p < 0.05.ResultsThe clinically-determined ECC prevalence was 4.6% (95% Confidence interval [CI]: 3.5–5.0) while the maternal-reported ECC prevalence was 3.4% (CI 2.4–4.6). Maternal reports underestimated the prevalence of ECC by 26.1% in comparison to the clinical evaluation. The results indicate low sensitivity (9.43%; CI 3.13–20.70) but high specificity (96.9%; CI 95.7–97.9). The positive predictive value was 12.8% (CI 4.3–27.4) while the negative predictive value was 95.7% (CI 94.3–96.8). The inflation factor for maternally reported ECC was 1.4. Sensitivity (50.0%; CI 6.8–93.2) and positive predictive value were highest (33.3%; CI 4.3–77.7) when the child had a history of visiting the dental clinic.ConclusionsMothers under-reported the presence of ECC in their children in this study population. The low sensitivity and positive predictive values of maternal report of ECC indicates that maternal reporting of presence of ECC may not be used as a valid tool to measure ECC in public health surveys. The high specificity and negative predictive values indicate that their report is a good measure of the absence of ECC in the study population. Child’s history of dental service utilization may be a proxy measure of presence of ECC.

Arresting early childhood caries using silver and fluoride products – A randomised trial

ObjectiveThe aim of this randomised non-inferiority clinical trial was to compare the effectiveness of semi-annual (every six months) applications of 25 % silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution followed by 5 % sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish to semi-annual applications of 38 % silver diamine fluoride (SDF) solution in arresting early childhood caries (ECC). MethodsThree-year-old children with active cavitated carious lesions were recruited and randomly assigned to two intervention groups. Children in Group A received semi-annual applications of 25 % AgNO3 solution followed by 5 % NaF varnish on carious lesions. Children in Group B received semi-annual applications of 38 % SDF solution followed by a placebo varnish. One trained dentist assessed ECC status at baseline and in all follow-up examinations. An independent operator performed the interventions. The dentist, the children, and their caretakers were blinded to the intervention allocation. Data were analysed using a non-inferiority test. Group A’s non-inferiority would be accepted if the lower limit of the 95 % confidence interval (CI) for the difference in the mean number of arrested decayed surfaces (ds) was greater than −0.5. ResultsAt baseline, 1,070 children were recruited, and 535 children were assigned to each group. After 30 months, the mean arrested ds in Groups A (n = 447) and B (n = 433) were 3.7 ± 3.6 and 3.6 ± 3.7, respectively (p = 0.694). The difference in the mean arrested ds between the two groups was 0.088 (95 % CI: -0.351 to 0.526). ConclusionSemi-annual application of 25 % AgNO3 followed by 5 % NaF is at least as effective as the semi-annual application of 38 % SDF in arresting ECC. Clinical significanceSilver and fluoride products are effective in arresting caries. As a simple, non-invasive, and inexpensive strategy, it can be used in young children, elderly adults, and people with special needs.

Early childhood caries status and its associated factors among young children in a rural area of Cambodia

BackgroundThe purpose of this cross-sectional study was to measure prevalence and severity of early childhood caries (ECC), and its associated factors among 1- and 2-year-old children in Kampong Cham province, Cambodia. Materials and methodsData, from a representative sample of 128 children (69 males, 59 females; mean age = 22.98 ± 7.68 months), were collected at seven villages in Khpob Ta Nguon district, Kampong Cham province from May to October in 2018. The dental caries status was recorded following WHO guidelines. The socio-economic status, dietary habits and oral hygiene habits of the children were assessed through an interview questionnaire administered to their primary caregivers. ResultsECC prevalence was 50.0%. The mean dft was 2.46 ± 3.08, and 100% of cavitated lesions were untreated. A logistic regression revealed that 1-year-old children who continued night breast-feeding after 12 months were more likely to have ECC (OR = 5.32, 95%CI = 1.33–21.30), whereas the 2-year-old children who continued night breast-feeding beyond 12 months (OR = 13.36, 95%CI = 2.14–82.31), bottle-feeding after 12 months (OR = 6.10, 95%CI = 1.56–23.87), and children who did not adopt tooth brushing by the 1st birthday (OR = 32.23, 95%CI = 4.51–230.54) were more likely to have ECC. ConclusionThe findings of this study indicate that ECC prevalence and severity among this group of rural Cambodian children were high. Oral health programs focusing ECC prevention from an early age should be conducted in this population.

Proving the Associated Factor That Contributing the Caries Status among Pre-School Children in Bachok Kelantan

This paper focuses on the proving of the associated factor for the caries status among preschool children in Bachok, Kelantan. This research paper is mainly focused on the potential factor that most contributing to Early Childhood Caries (ECC). There are two methodologies approaches in this research paper which is Decision Tree Analysis (DTA) and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP). The results from both analyses can be used to assist the public and also the stakeholder to control the prevalence of ECC in the future. Results from both analyses are also very useful to redesign the health treatment among pre-school children, to educate the parents, teachers, and to improve the service which offered by the ministry of health from time to time by focusing the most influential factors which lead to ECC in the local community. According to the result of Decision Tree Analysis, the most factor that leads to caries status among preschool children are father’s occupation, household income, children’s weight and the type of water used in their house. While using Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) neural networks modeling, the factor can be summarized as household income factor, children’s weight, father occupation and also the type of water used in their house. From the results of the Decision Tree and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) reveals that the top three factors lead to ECC were household income factor, children’s weight, father’s occupation. This information will provide a very useful information to forecast ECC status among preschool children.

Dietary Intake and Severe Early Childhood Caries in Low-Income, Young Children

Evidence suggests that risk for early childhood caries (ECCs), the most common chronic infectious disease in childhood, is increased by specific eating behaviors. To identify whether consumption of added sugars, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and 100% fruit juice, as well as eating frequency, are associated with severe ECCs, cross-sectional data collected from a sample of low-income, racially diverse children aged 2 to 6 years were used. Four hundred fifty-four children with severe ECCs and 429 caries-free children were recruited in 2004-2008 from three pediatric dental clinics in Columbus, OH; Cincinnati, OH; and Washington, DC. Dietary data were obtained from one parent-completed 24-hour recall and an interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess associations between severe ECCs and dietary variables. On average, children with severe ECCs consumed 3.2-4.8 fl oz more SSBs (24-hour recall=1.80 vs 1.17; P< 0.001; FFQ=0.82 vs 0.39; P<0.001) and reported significantly more daily eating occasions (5.26 vs 4.72; P<0.0001) than caries-free children. After controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, maternal education, recruitment site, and family size, children with the highest SSB intake were 2.0 to 4.6 times more likely to have severe ECCs compared with those with the lowest intake, depending on dietary assessment method (24-hour recall odds ratio 2.02, 95% CI 1.33 to 3.06; FFQ odds ratio 4.63, 95% CI 2.86 to 7.49). The relationship between eating frequency and severe ECC status was no longer significant in multivariate analyses. Specific dietary guidance for parents of young children, particularly regarding SSB consumption, could help reduce severe ECC prevalence.

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Hong Kong Preschool Children

Objectives: To assess the impact of early childhood caries (ECC) on the quality of life in a population of preschool children and their families in Hong Kong. Methods: A random sample of 1,296 Chinese preschool children participated in the survey and were subjected to an oral examination for their ECC status by 2 trained examiners. The parents were asked to respond to the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) and an extra set of questions concerning their sociodemographic background. Results:The final data analysis included 1,261 children with a mean (±SD) age of 3.9 ± 0.66 years. The prevalence figures for ECC and severe ECC were 19.9 and 15.2%, respectively. Decayed teeth were found in 34.3% of the children while only 5.2% had filled teeth. The mean (±SD) dmft in this group of children was 1.5 ± 2.98. Higher ECOHIS scores were found in parents with lower education or income level, or with children who were born in mainland China (p < 0.05), or with children who had decayed, missing, or filled teeth (p < 0.001). In multiple regression analyses, decayed teeth and filled teeth in primary dentition were the better predictors (p < 0.001) of the ECOHIS score among the various parent and child characteristics collected in this survey. Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that parents of young children with dental caries experience perceived that both the children and other family members had poorer quality of life.

Psychosocial factors and early childhood caries among low‐income African–American children in Detroit

This study sought to advance knowledge of the social determinants of oral health, by examining how several specific maternal health beliefs, behaviors, and psychosocial factors relate to young children's early childhood caries (ECC) status in a lower-income African-American population. Data were collected by the Detroit Dental Health Project (NIDCR grant), a population-based study of 1021 African-American families with at least one child under 6 years of age and living in 39 low-income Census tracts in Detroit, Michigan. Analyses were limited to 719 children aged 1-5 years and their biological mothers, and conducted in SUDAAN to account for the complex sampling design. Survey data included health belief scales on mothers' self-efficacy, feelings of fatalism, knowledge about appropriate bottle use and children's oral hygiene needs, brushing habits, psychosocial measures of depressive symptoms (CES-D), parenting stress, and availability of instrumental social support. The child's age, dental insurance status, dental visit history, and 1-week brushing frequency were also included in the model. Children's ECC status, based on a dental examination, was the main outcome. The dental team used the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) criteria for caries detection. Each child was classified as either caries-free or having ECC or severe ECC (S-ECC) based on the case definition of ECC proposed by an expert panel for research purposes with preschool-aged children. The dental team followed a specific examination protocol and established reliable and consistent ratings of ECC based on the ICDAS criteria. The inter-rater reliability kappa was 0.83 overall, and the intra-rater reliability kappa was 0.74 overall. One-third of the children had ECC, and 20% had severe ECC. Age of the child and lower parenting stress scores were each positively associated with ECC, while higher education and income were protective. Maternal oral health fatalism and knowledge of children's hygiene needs were associated with ECC among preschool-aged children. ECC was higher among younger children who had past restorative care. These findings call attention to the high prevalence of ECC in this population and the need to consider psychosocial as well as traditional risk factors in developing interventions to reduce oral health disparities.