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Early predictors of childhood caries among 4-year-old children: a population-based study in north-eastern France

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Abstract

Background

Untreated early childhood caries (ECC) can trigger a number of negative consequences, including pain, chewing difficulties, insufficient physical development and low academic performance. Therefore, ECC impacts the oral health-related to quality of life. That is why it is important to assess the ECC prevalence and to determine the associated risk factors.

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between early predictor factors and dental caries among 4-year-old French children, considering the socioeconomic factors, dietary and oral hygiene practices, the access and the follow-up by paediatric dentist.

Design

The study was a cross-sectional observation. A random sample of 4-year-old children was selected among 596 Moselle’s public nursery schools in north-eastern France. Data were gathered from clinical dental examinations and a structured questionnaire completed by parents.

Results

In total, 425 subjects with completed questionnaires and clinical examinations were included. The prevalence of ECC and S-ECC (Severe-ECC), including only cavitated lesions, d3mft, were 15.8% and 5.9%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression modelling identified four main factors associated with a high risk of ECC that were sweet intake (adjusted odds ratio ORadjusted = 3.43, 95% CI = 1.57–7.53), brushing habits (ORadjusted = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.23–4.21), childcare arrangement (ORadjusted = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.23–4.21) and maternal educational level (ORadjusted = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.06–3.31). These four factors have a cumulative effect. Only 4% of children presented teeth restoration.

Conclusions

This study highlighted the impact of the family environment on the oral health status of the preschool children. The identification of the risk factors should allow to strengthen preventive measures and initiate oral health education program for children and their family.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the nurses, the teachers, the children and their parents, the medicine doctors, Dr. Jean Louis Gerhard, Dr. Damien Gonthier, and Olivier Cottet DASEN of Moselle who authorised the investigators to intervene in schools.

Funding

No funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Dentistry Department, CHRU Nancy, rue du Morvan, 54500, Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France

    M. Hernandez & D. Droz

  2. Odontology Faculty, University of Lorraine, Lorraine, France

    M. Hernandez, A. Lecaillon, A. Delsau & D. Droz

  3. Maternal and Child Protection Department and Health Direction, Metz, France

    K. Chau

  4. General Medicine Department, University of Lorraine, Nancy, France

    K. Chau

  5. INSERM, Plurithematic Clinical Investigation Center 1433, UMR 1116, University of Lorraine, CHRU, Nancy, France

    K. Chau

  6. Direction of the Maternal and Child Protection Department and Health Direction, Moselle Departmental Council, Nancy, France

    A. Charissou & P. Bruncher

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  1. M. Hernandez
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  2. K. Chau
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  3. A. Charissou
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  4. A. Lecaillon
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  5. A. Delsau
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  6. P. Bruncher
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Contributions

MH and DD drafted the manuscript. PB and DD conceived the project. AL and AD collected the data, supervised by MH and DD; KC and AC performed the statistical analyses. KC helped draft the manuscript.

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Correspondence to D. Droz.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval

The study was approved by the Ethical committee (Protocol Number: 18076-1232-18.08.21.60332) and the Nancy-Metz regional education authority.

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Written informed consent was obtained from the parents of the children.

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Hernandez, M., Chau, K., Charissou, A. et al. Early predictors of childhood caries among 4-year-old children: a population-based study in north-eastern France. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 22, 833–842 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-021-00627-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40368-021-00627-0

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