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Caries Experience among Children with History of Neonatal Stunting
Siska Yohana1, Ratna Indriyanti2, Netty Suryanti3
1Dentist Education Program, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jawa Barat, Indonesia.
Insights
Children with neonatal growth retardation experience early-onset dental caries. This condition, characterized by low birth length, can lead to increased tooth decay throughout childhood.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Public Health Nutrition
- Child Development
Background:
- Neonatal growth retardation, defined by birth length less than 48cm, predisposes children to chronic malnutrition.
- This pre- and post-natal malnutrition can negatively impact overall growth, development, and specifically oral health, increasing susceptibility to dental caries.
- Stunting poses a significant risk factor for the development of early childhood caries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dental caries experience in children diagnosed with neonatal growth retardation.
- To analyze the progression of tooth decay in this vulnerable pediatric population over a one-year period.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of children with neonatal growth retardation was followed for one year.
- Data collection involved maternal interviews, dental examinations, and anthropometric measurements.
- Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis using IBM SPSS.
Main Results:
- Fifty-five children completed the one-year study.
- The mean Decayed, Missing, or Filled Teeth (DMFT) index was 4.13 at baseline (intermediate category) and increased to 5.16 at follow-up (high category).
- Despite the increase, the rate of caries progression was categorized as low.
Conclusions:
- Children with a history of neonatal developmental delay are prone to developing dental caries early in life.
- The severity of dental caries may increase as these children grow older.
- Early intervention and monitoring are crucial for managing oral health in children with neonatal growth retardation.
Objective:
Children with neonatal growth retardation (defined as birth length <48cm) are at risk for chronic malnutrition that begins before birth and continues into infancy. Stunting can adversely affect a child's growth and development, including oral health itself, and especially the experience of dental caries. This study analyzed the dental caries experience in children with neonatal growth retardation.
Materials:
AND METHODS: This was a baseline and 1-year follow-up analysis of a cohort of stunted children in a potential stunting site in Bandung City. Annual data collection included interviews with mothers and dental and anthropometric examinations of children. Descriptive analysis was performed in SPSS.
Statistical Analysis:
Data were recorded on paper forms and manually entered into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet for later analysis using IBM SPSS (version 23.0). After assessment, descriptive statistics was generated prior to bivariate analysis.
Results:
Fifty-five children met the inclusion criteria and participated in the 1-year study. Decay, missing, filling teeth (Dmft) was in the intermediate category (4.13) at baseline and fell into the high category (5.16) at 1-year follow-up, although the increase in caries remained in the low category.
Conclusion:
Dysplastic children with a history of neonatal developmental delay experience dental caries beginning in the first year of life and may become more severe later in life.
