Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Oral Biofilm Sampling for Microbiome Analysis in Healthy Children
Published on: December 31, 2017
Environmental risk factors analysis in paediatric oral health: a cross-sectional study
G Franciosi1, S Fornich2, C Di Matteo2
1Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Unit of Paediatric Dentistry, University of Siena, Siena, Italy - Department of Medical Biotechnologies, Unit of Endodontics, Periodontology, Paediatric and Restorative Dentistry, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Aim:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between environmental risk factors [adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), eating habits, hygiene habits, body mass index (BMI)] with the presence of caries in a university-based cohort of paediatric patients.
Materials:
A total of 118 paediatric patients were included in the study. In addition to the evaluation of clinical (vitality test, percussion test) and radiographic (X-ray bitewing, OPT) parameters, patients' lifestyle was investigated through validated questionnaries. Data regarding decayed, missing, filled teeth index were recorded for both permanent (DMFT) and deciduous teeth (dmft). Logistic/linear regression models (crude estimates) and multiple regression models (logistic/linear) adjusted for confounding factors were built to evaluate the association between lifestyle habits and caries. The results were reported as Odds Ratio (OR - con 95% CI) for logistic regression models and Mean Difference (MD - con 95% CI) for linear models.
Conclusion:
The present study confirmed the role of nutritional habits in caries development in the paediatric population, especially for deciduous dentition. Further clinical studies are needed to improve the quality of administered questionnaires and evaluate the cause/effect relationship between environmental risk factors and caries.
Related Concept Videos
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
Relative Risk
Cross-Sectional Research
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...

