Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026
Evaluating the Effects of Different Polishing Methods on Color Stability of Dental Restorations in Pediatric Dentistry
Published on: June 6, 2025
Evaluation of certain risk factors for early childhood caries in Samsun, Turkey
1Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Samsun, Turkey.
Insights
Early childhood caries (ECC) is significantly influenced by infant feeding habits, particularly bottle feeding while sleeping, and a mother's lower education level. These factors are key to understanding and preventing ECC in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Early childhood caries (ECC) is a prevalent oral health issue affecting primary teeth in children under six.
- Understanding the multifactorial etiology of ECC is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of specific factors on the development of ECC in children residing in Samsun, Turkey.
- To identify key risk factors associated with ECC prevalence in the studied population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 226 children aged 3-6 years.
- Mothers completed questionnaires on infant feeding, education, and oral health knowledge.
- Clinical intraoral examinations were performed to diagnose ECC.
Main Results:
- ECC was diagnosed in 46.9% of the children, with a mean dmf-t of 2.87.
- Significant associations were found between ECC and bottle feeding while sleeping (p<0.05).
- Maternal education level showed a significant correlation with ECC prevalence (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Infant feeding practices, specifically bottle feeding during sleep, are significant risk factors for ECC.
- Maternal education level is a critical determinant in the development of early childhood caries.
- Maternal oral health knowledge did not show a significant correlation with ECC in this study.
Aim:
Early childhood caries (ECC) is a relatively new term used to describe any stage of caries lesion in any primary tooth surface in a child under 6 years of age. The purpose of this study was to identify certain factors that influence the development of ECC among children in Samsun, Turkey.
Materials And Methods:
Data were collected for 226 children (108 girls, 118 boys) aged 3-6 years. Questionnaires were administered to the mothers of participating children to obtain information on infant feeding habits and the mother's level of education and oral health knowledge. Clinical diagnoses of ECC were based on intraoral examinations conducted using a flashlight, disposable mirror and wooden tongue depressor.
Results:
ECC was diagnosed in 46.9% of children. The mean dmf-t was 2.87. Significant associations were found between ECC prevalence and bottle feeding while sleeping and between ECC and the mother's level of education (p<0.05). The caries rate increased with the addition of sugar-containing substances to bottles; however, the increase was not statistically significant (p>0.05). There were no correlations observed between ECC and the mother's oral health knowledge or attitude (p>0.05).
Conclusion:
Within the limitation of this study, among the various factors investigated, infant feeding habits and the mother's level of education were found to have significant effects on the development of ECC.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
01:21Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.