Prevalence of Signs and Symptoms Associated Prevalence of Signs and Symptoms Associated A Longitudinal Birth Cohort...

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of teething problems throughout the period of primary tooth eruption. Methods: This birth cohort study was conducted in two phases: Phase one (evaluation of teething symptoms among newly recruited infants) and Phase two (evaluation of teething symptoms among newly recruited infants and follow-up evaluation among infants recruited in Phase one). The study included an evaluation of infants born in a tertiary health care hospital using a hybrid design of telephonic conversation/video calling and clinical examination. The data were collected by one trained and calibrated evaluator and recorded in a self-designed form with validated measures of teething problems. Results: A total of 525 infants and parents participated. Teething problems were most prevalent at nine months of age (67.1 percent), followed by 12 months (50.1 percent)and 15 months (43.6 percent). Finger-sucking was the most common teething problem at six months (14 percent), nine months (81 percent), and 12 months (61.1 percent)of age. Incisor eruption was most associated with teething problems (72.5 percent), followed by canines (39.4 percent), first molars (36.9 percent) and second molars (24.9 percent). A significant correlation was seen between maternal education and maternal occupation and the parent-reported prevalence of teething problems (P<0.05). Conclusions: Almost two-thirds of the parents reported one or more teething problems at nine months coinciding with incisor eruption, whereas half also reported teething problems at 12 months. A significant correlation was seen between maternal education, maternal occupation and the prevalence of teething problems.