Background factors associated with endodontic treatment due to caries in young permanent teeth

Risk factors for early colonization of mutans streptococci - a multiple logistic regression analysis in Swedish 1-year-olds

BACKGROUND

Mutans streptococci (MS) are closely related to the development of dental caries and are usually established in the oral cavity during early childhood. The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with the presence of MS in Swedish 1-year-olds.

METHODS

Parents completed a questionnaire on different caries-associated factors and an oral bacterial sample was collected from 1,050 (526 boys, 524 girls) 1-year-olds. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for colonization with MS.

RESULTS

MS were found in 27% of the 1-year-olds with teeth. High or very high MS scores (2-3) were found in 72 (7%) of the children. MS score was correlated to the number of erupted teeth (p < 0.001). No difference due to gender was found. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that presence of bacteria was associated with: caries in a sibling, other beverages than water between meals, and more than 8 erupted teeth. High or very high MS scores (2-3) were associated with other beverages than water between meals, and more than 8 erupted teeth.

CONCLUSIONS

Number of teeth present, diet and family aspects were factors associated with presence of MS in 1-year-olds. To develop high or very high MS scores, the number of erupted teeth and dietary habits are important.

Retrospective radiological assessment of root canal treatment in young permanent dentition in a Turkish subpopulation

AIM

To determine the technical quality of root fillings as well as the periapical status of root filled teeth and non-root filled teeth in young permanent dentitions using a retrospective analysis of orthopantomographs (OPTGs) in a Turkish subpopulation.

METHODOLOGY

Included in this study were the digital OPTGs taken as a part of diagnostic and planning procedures for all 19-year-old adolescents who attended the Faculty of Dentistry, Marmara University (Istanbul, Turkey) for the first time during the period from June 2007 to May 2009. The periapical status of all teeth and the technical quality of the root fillings were assessed by radiographic criteria. Statistical analysis was performed by the Mann-Whitney U, chi-squared, Fisher's exact and Cohen's kappa tests.

RESULTS

The survey involved OPTGs of 1077 19-year-old adolescents: 663 (61.6%) women and 414 (38.4%) men. Of the 28974 teeth examined, 459 (1.6%) were root filled, of which 193 (42.0%) had radiological signs of apical periodontitis (AP), and 454 (1.6%) were non-root filled teeth with AP. No significant difference was found between women and men regarding the number of teeth present, the number of root filled teeth and the number of non-root filled teeth with AP (P>0.05). The most commonly treated teeth were molars (54.2%), followed by pre-molars (27.0%) and incisors (18.8%). Length was adequate in 57.3%, and homogeneity was adequate in 50.5% of the root fillings. Statistically, both the length and the homogeneity of the root fillings were significantly associated with periapical status individually (P<0.01). The overall technical quality was inadequate in 60.1% of the root fillings, and 67.0% of these were associated with signs of AP. Amongst root filled teeth, the frequency of AP in connection with molars was significantly higher (57.0%) than that for incisors (27.9%) and pre-molars (21.8%) (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

  The results of this study indicated that the frequency of root filled teeth with AP, non-root filled teeth with AP and of technically inadequate root fillings amongst all root filled teeth was high in this selected adolescent Turkish population.

Dental avoidance behaviour in parent and child as risk indicators for caries in 5-year-old children

AIM

The aim of this study was to explore associations between avoidance behaviour and dental anxiety in both parents and children and caries experience in 5-year-old children. It was hypothesised that parents' dental avoidance behaviour and dental anxiety were related to dental caries in 5-year-old children.

DESIGN

Data were collected from dental records and by clinical and radiographic examination of 523 children. The parents completed a questionnaire regarding education, national background, dental anxiety, dental attendance, and behaviour management problems. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was conducted.

RESULTS

Children having one or more missed dental appointments (OR = 4.7), child behaviour management problems (OR = 3.3), child dental anxiety (OR = 3.1), and parents avoiding dental care (OR = 2.1) were bivariately associated with caries experience at the age of 5 years. In multivariate logistic regression, having one or more missed dental appointments (OR = 4.0) and child behaviour management problems (OR = 2.4) were indicators for dental caries in 5-year-old children, when controlling for parents education and national origin.

CONCLUSION

Parents that avoid bringing their child to scheduled dental appointments and previous experiences of behaviour management problems for the child indicated risk for dental caries in 5-year-old children.