Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study, which took place in 2012, was to investigate the dental caries prevalence among infants and toddlers and the most significant risk factors for this in Minsk, Belarus.
Methods: A total of 800 children aged 6-36 months (average age 14.7 months), from randomly selected paediatric clinics in Minsk, were surveyed by one dentist to assess dental caries, using the d1- 4mft index. Parents were asked to fill in the questionnaires about their children’s oral hygiene and feeding practices. The results were analysed statistically. Logistic regression was used to reveal the strongest predictors for Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and create a model for prediction of the condition. For this purpose 74 risk factors were analysed. Ethics approval was obtained from the Regional Ethics Committee of the Belarusian State Medical University.
Results: Of the sample of 800, 383 (48%) were girls and 417 (52%) boys. Forty one children (5%) were still edentulous. Two hundred and forty nine (31%) of the children had dental caries. The prevalence increased from 6.7% in 1 year-olds to 57.3% in 2 year-olds and 63.5% in 3 year-olds. The index d1- 4mft was 1.7 (2.9), d1-4mfs was 2.72 (5.27). The mean d1 was 0.42 (1.17), d2 – 0.33 (1.02), d3 – 0.85 (1.38), d4 – 0.04 (0.34), m – 0.04 (0.36), f – 0.02 (0.28). Dentine caries was diagnosed more often and almost all carious lesions in infants and toddlers were untreated. Carious lesions were diagnosed more often on central upper incisors (33.6%), lateral upper incisors (37.6%) and first upper molars (29.3%). The mother’s educational level had an influence on the prevalence of ECC (χ2 =19.8, р<0.001). The strongest predictors of ECC were frequency of night feeding during 2-3 last months (p<0.000), night bottle feeding (p=0.003) and visible plaque on teeth (p=0.0006).
Conclusion: ECC is a major problem from a population health perspective but it is predictable and preventable. Rational feeding and early commencement of oral hygiene are the main preventive measures for young children.
The presenter of this abstract (3490) received a Colgate Travel Award
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