The prevalence and pattern of nursing caries in Saudi preschool children

Objectives. To determine the prevalence and pattern of nursing caries in Saudi preschool children of Riyadh area. Design. Cross‐sectional. Subjects and methods. A list of kindergartens was derived through random selection of one kindergarten from every area of Riyadh. A sample of 1016 children with primary dentition only was examined for dental caries. The criterion used for nursing caries was presence of caries on the labial or lingual surfaces of at least two maxillary incisors with absence of caries in mandibular incisors. Results. Two hundred and seventy‐seven (27·3%) children were diagnosed as having nursing caries. The mean dmft of nursing caries children was 8·6 (± 3·4), with dt component of 7·6 (± 3·5), mt of 0·4 (± 0·9) and ft of 0·6 (± 1·7). The older children had significantly higher mean dmft as compared with younger children. The teeth most affected by caries were maxillary central incisors (93·9%), whereas the least affected were mandibular canines (9·6%). A great majority of children (95·7%) had caries in both anterior and posterior teeth. The probability of bilateral molar caries was very high in nursing caries children; highest (94·7%) in mandibular first molars. Conclusions. The caries prevalence was high in the study population. The maxillary central incisors were most affected by caries. The probability of bilateral molar caries was very high.     

Electric pulp test threshold responses in healthy incisors,canines, premolars and molars

The purpose of this study was to determine the range of threshold responses of healthy dental pulps and test the reproducibility of the electric pulp test (EPT). Forty‐nine dental students participated in the study. Sound teeth in both arches, except third molars, were included. The teeth were isolated using cotton rolls and dried with compressed air, and the threshold responses were recorded. Participants stopped the stimulus increase by pressing the switch at the first sensation of discomfort. The measurements were repeated after 30 days. The obtained data were analysed using SPSS^®16.0. The mean thresholds for the maxillary incisors, canines, premolars and molars were 10.77, 21.07, 21.88 and 34.07 μA, and for mandibular incisors, canines, premolars and molars 9.81, 18.7, 19.24 and 30.1 μA respectively. The differences between the two measurements were statistically significant for teeth 32, 31, 41 and 42. The EPT was shown to be reproducible for all the teeth tested except mandibular incisors.     

Caries patterns and their relationship to infant feeding and socio-economic status in 2-4-year-old Chinese children

AIMS: To describe the prevalence, severity and patterns of caries in 2-4-year-old children and to evaluate the association between caries experience of the children and their feeding patterns and socio-economic background in terms of mothers' education and family income. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Suburban area of Hanchuan in Hubei province, China. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 426 children (250 boys and 176 girls). METHODS: Dental-examinations were undertaken in kindergartens using World Health Organization diagnostic criteria for dental caries. Mothers completed a short questionnaire. OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of caries; rampant caries; caries in incisors; caries in incisors and/or canines and molars; mean number of decayed, missing and filled teeth/surfaces (dmft/s). RESULTS: 36% of the children had caries, 7% had rampant caries. The more extensive pattern of caries involving primary molars as well as incisors and/or canines was seen in 12% of children. Children who had been wholly bottle-fed had five times the risk of having rampant caries compared to children who were breast-fed. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that infant feeding practice might be a key risk factor for the development of caries at an early age in this country as elsewhere.     

Association between oral conditions and functional limitations in childhood

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of oral conditions on functional limitations among preschoolers. A preschool‐based, cross‐sectional study was carried out with 843 preschoolers in Campina Grande, Brazil. Parents/caregivers answered a questionnaire addressing socio‐demographic characteristics and perceptions regarding the general/oral health of their children as well as the Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale. The nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test followed by Mann–Whitney test (α = 5%) was used to compare mean children's quality‐of‐life scores for each independent variable. Poisson regression analysis was used to test associations between the independent and dependent variables (difficulties eating, drinking and speaking) (α = 5%). The multivariate regression model involved a hierarchical approach with four levels (distal to proximal determinants): (i) socio‐demographic aspects; (ii) health perceptions; (iii) oral conditions; and (iv) pain conditions. The prevalence of negative impact on function was 24·7% for eating/drinking and 8·0% for speaking. Significant associations were found between toothache and negative impact on eating/drinking (PR = 5·38; 95%CI: 3·20–9·02) as well as between high severity dental caries and negative impact on speaking (PR = 14·91; 95%CI: 1·98–112·32). Dental caries, traumatic dental injury and malocclusion were not significantly associated with a negative impact on eating or drinking. However, toothache was an indicator of negative impact on eating/drinking and dental caries severity was an indicator of negative impact on speaking.     

Impact of caries onset on number and distribution of new lesions in preschool children

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2013; 23: 39–47 Background. Caries in preschool children remains an important public health issue. Aim. To determine (i) which teeth and tooth surfaces are most susceptible to dental caries by age 3, (ii) where do caries lesions develop during 2‐year follow‐up, and (iii) to evaluate the impact of caries onset on the distribution of new caries experience. Design. One thousand and fifty seven consecutively born children were recruited in Flanders (Belgium). Parents completed validated questionnaires on oral health‐related behaviour and trained dentists examined the children at ages 3 and 5. Results. Children with visible caries experience at age 3 were significantly more vulnerable in developing additional caries during follow‐up. In this group, new caries experience developed primarily in the occlusal and distal surfaces of the mandibular first molars and the occlusal surfaces of the maxillary second and first molars, whereas in the caries‐free group, the occlusal surfaces of both mandibular and maxillary second molars ranked first. Conclusions. This paper confirms the higher vulnerability for further caries development in those children with caries experience at age 3. Visible caries develops most frequently in the occlusal surfaces of the second molars: in high‐risk children already by age 3 and in children who were caries free at baseline by age 5.     

Caries prevalence and severity, and quality of life in Brazilian 2- to 4-year-old children

Gradella CMF, Bernabé E, Bönecker M, Oliveira LB. Caries prevalence and severity, and quality of life in Brazilian 2‐ to 4‐year‐old children. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2011; 39: 498–504. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of caries and severe caries on preschool children’s quality of life. Methods: Data from 765 2‐ to 4‐year‐old children attending a statutory National Day of Children’s Vaccination in Macapá (Northern Brazil) were analysed. Caries and severe caries were indicated by the dmfs and pufa indices, respectively. Parents completed a questionnaire including questions on socioeconomic factors and the impact of oral conditions on their children’s quality of life using the Brazilian version of the Parental Perceptions Questionnaire for preschool children. Logistic regression was used to test the unadjusted and adjusted associations of caries and severe caries with different aspects of children’s quality of life. Results: Sixty‐two and five per cent of children had dental caries (dmfs index > 0) and severe caries (pufa index > 0), respectively. In the adjusted models, having caries was significantly related to toothache and problems eating certain foods as well as to be absent from school and ashamed to smile, whereas having severe caries was significantly related to toothache and problems eating certain foods only. Neither caries nor severe caries was related to stop playing with other children. Conclusions: This study shows that caries and severe caries may have a considerable impact on some aspects of preschool children’s quality of life.     

Prevalence of dental caries among 12–14 year old children in Qatar

BackgroundTo ensure the oral health of a population, clinicians must deliver appropriate dental services, and local communities need to have access to dental care facilities. However, establishment of this infrastructure must be based on reliable information regarding disease prevalence and severity in the target population.ObjectivesThe aims of this study were to measure the incidence of dental caries in school children aged 12–14 throughout Qatar, including the influence of socio-demographic factors.Materials and methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Qatar from October 2011 to March 2012. A total of 2113 children aged 12–14 were randomly selected from 16 schools located in different geographic areas. Three calibrated examiners using World Health Organization (WHO) criteria to diagnose dental caries performed the clinical examinations. Data analyses were subsequently conducted.ResultsThe mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth index values were respectively 4.62 (±3.2), 4.79 (±3.5), and 5.5 (±3.7), for 12, 13, and 14 year-old subjects. Caries prevalence was 85%. The mandibular incisors and canines were least affected by dental caries, while maxillary and mandibular molars exhibited the highest incidence of dental caries. Dental caries were affected by socio-demographic factors; significant differences were detected between female and male children, where more female children showed dental caries than male children. In addition, children residing in semi-urban areas showed more dental caries than in urban areas.ConclusionResults indicated that dental caries prevalence among school children in Qatar has reached critical levels, and is influenced by socio-demographic factors. The mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth values obtained in this study were the second highest detected in the Eastern Mediterranean region.     

A systematic review of clinical diagnostic criteria of early childhood caries

OBJECTIVE: This paper reviews case definitions and clinical diagnostic criteria of early childhood caries (ECC) and severe ECC (S-ECC) in children aged 1 to 5 years old. The acronym S-ECC as used in this paper refers to nursing caries, baby bottle tooth decay, rampant caries, labial caries, maxillary anterior caries, and other terms used to refer to severe dental caries in preschool children. METHODS: A search was carried out for articles published in peer-reviewed journals and indexed in MEDLINE using the following terms: nursing caries, baby bottle tooth decay, early childhood caries, rampant caries in preschool children, labial caries, maxillary anterior caries, and nursing bottle caries. MEDLINE's MeSH terms "dental caries" and "deciduous teeth" were used to search for other relevant studies. Reports were selected if they included children 1 to 5 years of age and described diagnostic criteria or case definitions of S-ECC. Three previous reviews were searched for other relevant reports. One unpublished report was included in this review and data from NHANES III were analyzed to provide information on caries patterns in preschool children in the United States. The first author read all the abstracts from the MEDLINE search and tagged relevant reports for photocopying. He also abstracted all the information from the reports. The first author calibrated the second author, who independently read all included and excluded reports. Disagreements were resolved by consensus. RESULTS: Out of 126 studies, 32 were excluded and 94 (93 published and 1 unpublished) were included in this review. Eighty-one of the 94 published studies were cross-sectional surveys or clinical studies, 7 were case-control clinical studies, 2 studies were controlled clinical trials, and 4 were cohort or field trials. About two-thirds of the included studies did not report on calibration of examiners. Information on reliability of examiners was reported by 19 of the 94 studies. The included studies varied widely in the name used to identify S-ECC, case definitions, and diagnostic criteria. "Cavitation" was the most common criterion used to define dental caries. Several studies measured early or noncavitated carious lesions. Twenty-seven studies used the presence of 1 dmf maxillary incisor to classify a child with S-ECC. Another 23 and 9 studies defined S-ECC by the presence of 2+ or 3+ dmf maxillary incisors, respectively. Dental caries in preschool children clusters in pits and fissures and on smooth tooth surfaces of primary molars and maxillary incisors. CONCLUSIONS: This review found a wide variation in the case definitions and diagnostic criteria used to diagnose ECC or define S-ECC. Dental caries in the maxillary incisors is one of several patterns of dental caries that may occur in primary teeth of preschool children. A consensus is needed on case definitions and diagnostic criteria that can assist researchers to test preventive interventions and study the etiology and epidemiology of ECC.     

瓦努阿图儿童乳牙龋病发病情况调查

目的了解瓦努阿图桑托岛居住的3～6岁儿童乳牙龋齿患病情况,为该地区制定学龄前儿童龋病防治措施提供基线资料。方法505名该地区居住的儿童,在室外条件下检查乳牙患龋情况,并记录dmft值,经统计学分析各年龄组之间及各牙位之间的患龋情况。结果儿童乳牙的患病率为35.7%～48.4%,龋均0.57～1.66。各年龄组和性别间乳牙的患龋率和龋均没有显著性差异。患龋最多的为上颌乳切牙,其次为下颌乳磨牙和上颌乳磨牙。发病率最低的是下颌乳切牙、下颌乳尖牙及上颌乳尖牙。乳牙龋坏充填率0.6%。结论瓦努阿图桑托岛居住的儿童乳牙龋齿的患病率较低,可能与当地的生活习惯有关。龋齿充填率很低,应当加大口腔保健的服务力度。     

Aluminum concentration in deciduous teeth is dependent on tooth type and dental status

Aluminum (Al) concentration was assessed in deciduous teeth in relation to sex, year of birth, tooth type, and the presence of caries and roots. Three hundred and twenty-three deciduous teeth from children born during the period 1952-93 in a county in southeast Sweden were sampled, and the Al content determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The arithmetic mean of the Al concentration was 0.58 &#45 0.64 ppm dry weight (mean &#45 standard deviation) and differed significantly between incisors (1.05 &#45 1.04 ppm) and canines (0.48 &#45 0.50 ppm) and between incisors and molars (0.53 &#45 0.55 ppm). A significant difference was found between teeth with and without caries. No significant differences were found between sexes. The Al concentration correlated significantly with tooth weight for incisors (r =-0.47)and canines (r =-0.45) but not for molars (r = 0.03). No significant change in Al concentration was found over time. Caries-free deciduous molars are suggested as the most useful teeth for biological monitoring of aluminum.     

Survey of reasons for extraction of permanent teeth in Italy

Abstract The purpose of the study is to collect information on the reasons given by dentists, randomly selected from the Italian Dental and Maxillo-Facial Association's, for extracting permanent teeth in Italy. From the 164 dentists responding, 1056 teeth in 839 patients were extracted during two weeks of working activity. More than two-thirds of the teeth were extracted for dental caries (34.4%) and periodontal disease (33.1%). The mean number of teeth extracted per patient showed a significant increasing trend with increasing age, being 1.09 in those from 16 to 39 yr, 1.25 in the 40–59-yr-old group, to 1.54 in those over 59 yr of age (F = 21.44; P<0.0001). The third molar was the most frequently extracted tooth and 41.3% were removed due to impaction reasons, in particular from the mandible. The first and second molars and the premolars were extracted most often because of caries; more than half of the incisors and the canines were extracted for periodontal reasons; the majority of the teeth removed for prosthetic reasons, 57.1%, were incisors and canines, especially in the mandible; of the teeth extracted for orthodontic reasons, 47.4% were first and second premolars. The prevalence of subjects with at least one tooth extracted for dental caries and for orthodontic reasons were respectively significantly higher in the irregular than the regular attenders (chi-square=46.55; P<0.0001), and in the regular than the irregular dental attenders (chi-square=63.12; P<0.0001). Dental practitioners should promote targeted initiatives for prevention and treatment of diseases in order to reduce in particular the incidence of tooth extraction because of caries and periodontal disease.     

Aluminum concentration in deciduous teeth is dependent on tooth type and dental status

Aluminum (Al) concentration was assessed in deciduous teeth in relation to sex, year of birth, tooth type, and the presence of caries and roots. Three hundred and twenty-three deciduous teeth from children born during the period 1952 93 in a county in southeast Sweden were sampled, and the Al content determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The arithmetic mean of the Al concentration was 0.58 +/- 0.64 ppm dry weight (mean +/- standard deviation) and differed significantly between incisors (1.05 +/- 1.04 ppm) and canines (0.48 +/- 0.50 ppm) and between incisors and molars (0.53 +/- 0.55 ppm). A significant difference was found between teeth with and without caries. No significant differences were found between sexes. The Al concentration correlated significantly with tooth weight for incisors (r = -0.47) and canines (r = -0.45) but not for molars (r = 0.03). No significant change in Al concentration was found over time. Caries-free deciduous molars are suggested as the most useful teeth for biological monitoring of aluminum.     

Nursing caries. Therapeutic needs]

The purpose of the study was to investigate a pattern of caries in preschool children, associated with a history of frequent drinking of fruit juices or sugered milk, into the feeding bottle, often given at bedtime. The rampant caries which are produced affect all maxillary primary incisors and the first primary molars, the canines and the second primary molars are less affected and the mandibular primary incisors never are affected. The treatment needs have been determinated. The extractions, the obturations, pulpotomy and stainless steel crown together with infant denture, this therapeutic ways have been utilized.     

Prevalence of dental caries in 12-13-year-old Jordanian students.

The purpose of this study was to determine the caries experience of 12-13-year-old 6th grade students in Jordan. A total of 694 students were selected randomly from a list of schools teaching 6th grade students in Irbid, Jordan. The data were collected by interview and clinical examination performed by two examiners. Dental examinations were done by using dental mirrors and probes under artificial light in classrooms and the diagnosis of dental caries was made by the criteria recommended by the World Health Organisation (1987). On average students had 24.4 sound teeth, 2.3 decayed teeth (D), 0.05 missing teeth (M) and 0.16 filled teeth (F). The mean DMFT index was 2.51. The D represents 92% of the DMF cases. Of the students examined 188 were caries free (27.1%). Of the 19,432 permanent teeth examined the highest frequency of dental caries (61%) and fillings (77%) was found in first molars, and these were the most commonly missing teeth (67%). Second molars and second premolars had the second and third highest frequencies respectively, whereas incisors and canines were the least affected teeth (< 2%).     

Dental caries among urban schoolchildren in Madagascar

Abstract An epidemiological survey of prevalence and severity of dental caries was carried out in an urban population of children in Madagascar. The study population comprised 1257 children in the age groups 4–5 yr to 14–15 yr equally distributed by sex. The children were examined according to the recording system for the Danish Child Dental Services. The caries experience in the primary dentition as well as in the permanent dentition was high. For example, among 6-yr-olds a mean number of 11.8 defs and 5.2 deft was observed and 82% of the children were affected by caries in primary teeth. In particular, primary molars in the mandibular and incisors in the maxilla were affected and approximate caries was frequent. Among 12-yr-olds mean DMFS was 4.0 and DM FT 2.4 and 75% of the children had caries in permanent teeth. In permanent teeth caries was located predominantly to mandibular molars and occlusal surfaces. In both dentitions almost all decay was untreated, indicating lack of dental treatment available due to the shortage of dental manpower. The establishment of a child dental service system is a matter of urgency. Dental health education and primary health care should be organized.     

The bilateral occurrence of dental caries among 12-13 and 15-19 year old school children

The purpose of the study was to determine the bilateral occurrence of dental caries in 12-13 year old and 15-19 year old Saudi school children. There were 673 children (324 boys and 349 girls) in the 12-13 year old group and 734 children (399 boys and 335 girls) in the 15-19 year old group with mean ages of 13.1 (SD 0.7) years and 16.4 (SD 1.2) years, respectively. All children were examined for dental caries using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for the diagnosis of dental caries. There were no significant differences between the caries prevalence of right and left sides for most teeth at the significance level of 0.05. Among 12-13 year old children, maxillary first molars (86.5%), mandibular central incisors (86.2%), and mandibular first molars (86.0%) showed very high (p <.01) caries bilaterality. Among the 15-19 year old children, mandibular first molars (91.6%), maxillary first molars (87.9%), and mandibular second molars (79.9%) showed very high (p <.01) caries bilaterality. The conditional probability for bilateral occurrence of caries was highest in first molars followed by second molars and central incisors. The bilateral caries occurrence and conditional probability for bilateral caries occurrence were significantly higher (p <.05) in 15-19 year old children as compared to 12-13 year old children. It was concluded caries bilaterality and the conditional probability for bilateral caries occurrence was high in the study population.     

绿茶多酚涂膜临床防龋效果观察

本研究将含绿茶多酚涂膜（0.078g/L）用于乳牙，观察其对乳牙的防龋作用，并分析其作用特点。实验组107名儿童的第一乳磨牙和乳中切牙涂布绿茶多酚涂膜，隔6个月后重复涂布一次，一年后复查患龋情况，记录dmft和dmfs。另110名儿童作为对照。结果涂布牙新患龋率与对照组相比下降66％；实验组非涂布牙新患间牙、新患龋牙面和新患龋率均显著低于对照组；绿茶多酚涂膜对后牙防龋作用大于前牙；从不同牙面看，涂膜对面作用最强，颊舌面次之，近远中面较小。表明绿茶多酚涂膜对涂布牙和口腔中其它非涂布牙具有显著防龋作用。     

Longitudinal evaluation of the impact of dental caries treatment on oral health‐related quality of life among schoolchildren

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dental caries treatment on oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) among schoolchildren and the responsiveness of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ_8‐10) instrument. Brazilian schoolchildren, 8–10 yr of age, were randomly selected and assigned to two groups – dental caries treatment (DCT) and caries‐free (CF) – according to their caries experience [decayed, missing, or filled primary teeth (dmft) and decayed, missing or filled secondary teeth (DMFT) values of ≥0]. The CPQ_8‐10 instrument was administered at baseline and at 4 wk of follow‐up (i.e. 4 wk after completion of dental treatment). In the DCT group, increases in CPQ_8‐10 scores were observed between the baseline and follow‐up results. However, longitudinal evaluation of the CF group demonstrated no statistically significant difference in CPQ_8‐10 scores. Responsiveness of the CPQ_8‐10 instrument (magnitude of change in CPQ_8‐10 scores) in the DCT group was greater (effect size >0.7) than in the CF group. The findings of this study show that dental caries treatment has an important impact on OHRQoL of children. The CPQ_8‐10 was considered an acceptable instrument for longitudinal measurement of changes in OHRQoL.     

Socioeconomic inequalities in the distribution of dental caries in Brazilian preschool children

Objectives: This study assessed the inequality in caries distribution and the association between socioeconomic indicators and caries experience of preschool children in a city in Brazil. Methods: A cross‐sectional study in a multistage random sample of 455, 1‐5‐year‐old children was conducted on National Children's Vaccination Day in Santa Maria, Brazil. Calibrated examiners evaluated the prevalence of dental caries and parents provided information about several socioeconomic indicators by means of a semi‐structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Poisson regression model. Results: The caries prevalence was 23.5 percent and the means for the decayed, missing and filled primary teeth was 0.8. A high inequality in the caries distribution with Gini coefficient of 0.8 and Significant Caries Index of 2.8 was observed. The oldest children, non‐white, with mothers having low level of education and from low household income had the highest prevalence of dental caries. Conclusion: Socioeconomic factors are strong predictors for the inequality in caries distribution in Brazilian preschool children.