Influence of occlusal characteristics, food intake and oral hygiene habits on dental caries in adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Authors

  • D Giugliano DDS, MS, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples
  • F d’Apuzzo DDS, MS, PhD student, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples
  • A Majorana MD, MS, Professor, Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Dental School, University of Brescia, Brescia
  • G Campus DDS, MS, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Medical, Surgical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari
  • F Nucci DDS, Private Practice, Milan
  • C Flores-Mir DDS, MS, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Postgraduate Orthodontic Programme, Department of Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
  • L Perillo DDS, MS, PhD, Professor, Chair of the Postgraduate Orthodontic Programme, Head of the Orthodontic Programme, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Specialties, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2018.19.02.02

Keywords:

Dental caries, Malocclusions, Diet, Oral health, Social class

Abstract

AIM: Dental caries is one of the most common oral diseases affecting children. The complex multifactorial aetiology of caries involves host (saliva composition and tooth enamel characteristics), oral microflora and substrate (oral hygiene quality and dietary habits composition). Occlusal characteristics may be also a factor in dental caries development. The aim of this aepidemiologic study was to verify the association between DMFT (Decayed, Missed, Filled Teeth) index and occlusal characteristics, dietary habits, oral hygiene habits and parents' education level in a sample of 12-year-old schoolchildren from Southern Italy. METHODS: A sample of 536 children was examined to detect dental caries status and several occlusal variables (i.e. molar relationship, overjet and overbite, presence of crossbite, scissor bite, crowding, diastemas and/or midline deviation). A questionnaire to retrieve parents' educational level, patient's dietary and oral hygiene habits was administered. The associations among these variables were assessed statistically through the ?2 test.