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Early Childhood Caries and Its Consequences Impact Sleep in Preschool Children

Mariah Rodrigues do Amaral1, Juliana Juliana Freire-Maia1, Jéssica Madeira Bittencourt1

  • 1Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Journal of Dentistry for Children (Chicago, Ill.)
|April 27, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Children with severe early childhood caries (ECC) and its consequences experienced significant sleep difficulties. These clinical outcomes of ECC were linked to approximately 3 times higher likelihood of sleep problems in preschoolers.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Dental Public Health
  • Sleep Medicine

Background:

  • Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a prevalent oral health issue in preschoolers.
  • The impact of ECC, particularly its clinical consequences, on children's sleep quality is not fully understood.
  • Assessing sleep-related quality of life is crucial for understanding the comprehensive burden of ECC.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate how early childhood caries (ECC) and its clinical manifestations affect sleep in preschool children.
  • To determine the association between the clinical consequences of ECC and sleep disturbances.
  • To provide data for interventions aimed at improving the oral health and well-being of young children.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 533 preschoolers (aged 4-6 years) in Brazil.
  • Caregiver-reported sleep difficulties using a validated questionnaire related to dental problems.
  • Clinical examinations to diagnose ECC and its consequences (pufa index) using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS).

Main Results:

  • 14.1% of preschoolers presented with clinical consequences of ECC.
  • Children with clinical consequences of ECC were 3.04 times more likely to experience sleep difficulties.
  • A significant association was found between the clinical consequences of ECC and sleep disturbances.

Conclusions:

  • The clinical consequences of early childhood caries significantly impair preschool children's sleep.
  • Addressing severe ECC and its complications is essential for improving sleep quality in young children.
  • This study highlights the broader impact of dental caries beyond oral health, affecting overall well-being.

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