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Early predictors of childhood caries among 4-year-old children: a population-based study in north-eastern France
M Hernandez1,2, K Chau3,4,5, A Charissou6
1Pediatric Dentistry Department, CHRU Nancy, rue du Morvan, 54500, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France.
Insights
Early childhood caries (ECC) affects 15.8% of French 4-year-olds. Key risk factors include high sugar intake, poor brushing habits, childcare, and lower maternal education, emphasizing family environment
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Untreated early childhood caries (ECC) has significant negative impacts on a child's overall well-being, affecting physical development and academic performance.
- Assessing ECC prevalence and identifying associated risk factors are crucial for effective public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between early predictor factors and dental caries in 4-year-old French children.
- To analyze the influence of socioeconomic factors, dietary habits, oral hygiene practices, and dental care access on ECC.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional observational study involving 425 children aged 4 years from public nursery schools in Moselle, France.
- Data collection included clinical dental examinations and structured parental questionnaires.
- Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify risk factors associated with ECC.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of ECC was 15.8%, with Severe ECC (S-ECC) at 5.9%.
- Significant risk factors identified were high sweet intake (OR=3.43), inadequate brushing habits (OR=2.25), specific childcare arrangements (OR=2.27), and lower maternal educational level (OR=1.87).
- These factors demonstrated a cumulative effect on ECC risk.
Conclusions:
- The family environment plays a significant role in the oral health status of preschool children.
- Identifying these risk factors is essential for developing targeted preventive strategies and oral health education programs for children and families.
Background:
Untreated early childhood caries (ECC) can trigger a number of negative consequences, including pain, chewing difficulties, insufficient physical development and low academic performance. Therefore, ECC impacts the oral health-related to quality of life. That is why it is important to assess the ECC prevalence and to determine the associated risk factors.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between early predictor factors and dental caries among 4-year-old French children, considering the socioeconomic factors, dietary and oral hygiene practices, the access and the follow-up by paediatric dentist.
Design:
The study was a cross-sectional observation. A random sample of 4-year-old children was selected among 596 Moselle's public nursery schools in north-eastern France. Data were gathered from clinical dental examinations and a structured questionnaire completed by parents.
Results:
In total, 425 subjects with completed questionnaires and clinical examinations were included. The prevalence of ECC and S-ECC (Severe-ECC), including only cavitated lesions, d3mft, were 15.8% and 5.9%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression modelling identified four main factors associated with a high risk of ECC that were sweet intake (adjusted odds ratio ORadjusted = 3.43, 95% CI = 1.57-7.53), brushing habits (ORadjusted = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.23-4.21), childcare arrangement (ORadjusted = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.23-4.21) and maternal educational level (ORadjusted = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.06-3.31). These four factors have a cumulative effect. Only 4% of children presented teeth restoration.
Conclusions:
This study highlighted the impact of the family environment on the oral health status of the preschool children. The identification of the risk factors should allow to strengthen preventive measures and initiate oral health education program for children and their family.
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