Familial and dietary risk factors in Early Childhood Caries

Authors

  • L Paglia Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Istituto Stomatologico Italiano (ISI), Milan
  • S Scaglioni Fondazione De Marchi, Paediatric Department, RCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan
  • V Torchia Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Istituto Stomatologico Italiano (ISI), Milan
  • V De Cosmi Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS C Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Laboratorio di Statistica Medica ed Epidemiologia 'G.A. Maccacaro' Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan
  • M Moretti Dental Hygienist University of Pisa
  • G Marzo Director of Post Graduate School of Orthodontics, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences , University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila
  • MR Giuca Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, Pisa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2016.2.1.93

Keywords:

Diet, Early childhood caries, Familial risk factors

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the causes of Early Childhood Caries. METHODS: Study Design: A statistical comparison of two groups of patients, aged between 3 and 6, and their parents, in the 3-year period 2013-2015 was performed. Two groups of patients were selected: 40 children with early childhood caries (ECC group) and 40 children with no decay (controls). Parents were asked to fill out a questionnaire on food habits, oral hygiene habits, fluoride prophylaxis and family history of caries. A dental visit of children and parents was performed (collection of dmft and DMFT index). The saliva features of the two groups of children (concentration of Streptococcus mutans, pH of the oral cavity and buffer capability of stimulated saliva) were examined by means of salivary tests. The distribution of the population was analysed and parametric and non-parametric tests for continuous and non-continuous variables, were used when appropriate. The statistical significance was set at p > 0.005.