Underweight in low socioeconomic status preschool children with severe early childhood caries

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S Gaur1, R Nayak

  • 1Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal, Karnataka, India. get2sumitgaur@yahoo.co.in

Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry
|October 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Severe early childhood caries (sECC) significantly impacts children's weight and quality of life (QoL). Dental rehabilitation improved both, highlighting the need for oral health awareness and services.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Public Health
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Severe early childhood caries (sECC) presents a significant public health challenge in developing countries, notably India.
  • sECC has profound local and systemic health implications for young children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of sECC and its subsequent management on the growth parameters and quality of life (QoL) of preschool children from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • To assess changes in weight, height, and QoL following dental rehabilitation in children with sECC.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative study involving 100 preschool children (50 with sECC, 50 controls) matched for age, gender, and socioeconomic status.
  • Growth parameters (Weight, Height, Head circumference, Mid arm circumference, BMI) and QoL were measured at baseline and after six months of dental treatment.
  • Statistical analysis included Chi-square, ANOVA, Fisher's exact, and paired t tests using SPSS v.11.0.

Main Results:

  • Children with sECC exhibited lower baseline weight (46% underweight) and reported pain, food avoidance, weight loss, and sleep disturbances compared to controls.
  • Following dental rehabilitation, significant improvements were observed in the weight (P=0.002) and QoL of children who previously had sECC.
  • The Decayed, Extracted, and Filled teeth (def) index was used to quantify caries severity.

Conclusions:

  • sECC detrimentally affects children's weight and overall quality of life.
  • Effective oral health education for parents and accessible dental services are crucial for improving children's health outcomes and QoL.
  • Early intervention and management of sECC are vital for preventing long-term systemic effects.
Abstract

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