Tooth Eruption and Early Childhood Caries: A Multisite Longitudinal Study.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Dental Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Early childhood caries (ECC) is a significant public health concern.
• Understanding predictors of ECC is crucial for timely intervention.
• The relationship between early tooth eruption and subsequent caries development requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between the number of teeth present at 12 months of age and the development of decayed, missing, or filled surfaces (dmfs).
• To assess this relationship at two critical time points: 30 months and 48 months of age.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from a longitudinal, multisite study.
• Clinical dental examinations were performed at 12, 30, and 48 months.
• Statistical analyses included Spearman correlation and Mantel-Haenszel chi-square tests.

Main Results:

• A weak but statistically significant positive correlation was found between the number of teeth at 12 months and dmfs at both 30 months (R=0.066, P=0.032) and 48 months (R=0.093, P=0.004).
• The Mantel-Haenszel chi-square analysis revealed a significant relationship between early tooth presence and dmfs at 48 months (P=0.013), but not at 30 months (P=0.326).

Conclusions:

• Early tooth eruption demonstrates a weak association with the occurrence of early childhood caries.
• The number of teeth present at 12 months may be a minor predictive factor for caries development by 48 months.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the complex multifactorial etiology of ECC.