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Association between early childhood caries and maternal caries status: A cross-section study in São Luís, Maranhão,
Pedrita Mara do Espírito Santo de Souza1, Mariana Almeida Mello Proença1, Mayra Moura Franco1
1Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil.
Objective:
This study aims to evaluate the association between early childhood caries (ECC) and maternal caries status, and the maternal perception of ECC risk factors.
Materials And Methods:
A cross-sectional study was carried out with 77 mother-child pairs, the children ranging from 12 to 36 months of age and their mothers, who were seeking dental care at a health center in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. Data collection was conducted using a specific questionnaire for mothers. Oral clinical examination of the mother-child binomial to assess caries incidence, gingival bleeding (GB) and visible plaque was done. Home visits were performed in 10% of the sample in order to observe the environmental conditions, dietary habits and dental hygiene practices.
Results:
The findings showed that the caries prevalence in children was 22.5 times higher in the mother who had decayed tooth (prevalence ratio [PR] = 22.5, confidence interval [CI] 95% = 3.2-156.6, P < 0.001). GB also was observed in 14 mothers and children, the PR in pair was 12.2 (CI95% = 1.6-88.9, P < 0.001). The variables are related for the mother-child binomial in regression linear analysis.
Conclusion:
The maternal caries status was associated with ECC.
