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Lead associated caries development in children living in a lead contaminated area, Thailand

Nattaporn Youravong1, Virasakdi Chongsuvivatwong, Alan F Geater

  • 1Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand. pnuttapo@yahoo.com

The Science of the Total Environment
|June 25, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Lead exposure significantly increases the risk of cavities in children's primary teeth (dfs), but not permanent teeth (DMFS). This study highlights lead

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Lead (Pb) is a known neurotoxin, but its impact on dental health, specifically cariogenicity, remains under investigation.
  • Children residing near industrial sources, such as shipyards, may have elevated exposure levels.
  • Understanding lead's effect on oral health is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cariogenicity of lead exposure in children aged 6-11 years.
  • To determine the correlation between blood lead levels (PbB) and dental caries in deciduous (dfs) and permanent (DMFS) teeth.
  • To assess the association between PbB and oral hygiene parameters.

Main Methods:

  • Observational, cross-sectional study of 292 children from primary schools near a lead-contaminated shipyard.
  • Data collected included dfs, DMFS, salivary flow rate, pH, buffer capacity, oral hygiene status, and microbial counts.
  • Blood lead levels (PbB) were measured, and statistical analyses, including correlation and odds ratios, were performed.

Main Results:

  • The mean dfs was 13.2 and DMFS was 1.3. The geometric mean PbB was 7.2 microg/dl.
  • A significant correlation was found between dfs and PbB (Rs=0.25, p=0.00), but not between DMFS and PbB (Rs=0.09, p=0.14).
  • A doubling of PbB increased the odds of having dfs > 5 by 2.39 times (95% CI, 1.36-4.20; p=0.004), indicating increased cariogenicity in primary teeth.

Conclusions:

  • Lead exposure is associated with increased dental caries in deciduous teeth among children.
  • The cariogenic effect of lead was not evident in permanent teeth for this age group.
  • These findings underscore the importance of monitoring and mitigating lead exposure to protect children's dental health.

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