High birthweight is associated with increased prevalence of dental caries in Japanese children

The association between low birth weight and/or preterm birth and dental caries -A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Studies on the association between adverse birth outcomes and dental caries in children have shown conflicting results, so the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the association between adverse birth outcomes and dental caries in children.

METHODS

We systematically searched articles in four electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase) published prior to August 2021. The odds ratio (OR) (or converted OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were processed. The certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE's risk bias assessment tool. Random effects model was used for this meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of thirty-one observational studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled estimates indicated that children exposed to low birth weight (LBW)/preterm birth (PTB) did not experience higher dental caries in primary teeth. Subgroup analyses showed that children with LBW (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.03-1.63) were prone to have dental caries in primary teeth for cross-sectional studies, but no significant differences for prospective studies. PTB children experienced more primary caries in high-income countries (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.00-1.70) than in low- and middle-income countries.

CONCLUSIONS

The current evidence did not suggest a significant association between LBW and dental caries in children for primary teeth. Children with PTB in high-income countries had a higher prevalence of primary dental caries. Further prospective studies should adjust for confounding factors (age, oral health and family finances) to determine the definitive association between LBW/PTB and dental caries.

Systematic review suggests a relationship between moderate to late preterm birth and early childhood caries

AIM

The aim was to examine the association between moderate to late preterm birth and the prevalence of early childhood caries.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Trials Register databases up to February 28, 2020. Two independent reviewers screened the papers for relevance, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to pool the prevalence of early childhood caries by gestational age.

RESULTS

The authors identified 14 studies covering 210,691 children. They were published from 2007-2020 and included birth cohorts, cross-sectional, register-based and case-control studies. We assessed eight of them as having low or moderate risk of bias. The median caries prevalence was 48.8% among children born moderate to late preterm compared to 20.5% for those born full term. The pooled overall odds ratio was 1.48 (95% confidence interval 1.16-1.89; P < .001). The certainty of this finding was low due to heterogeneity and inconsistencies across the studies.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review and meta-analysis displayed a significantly higher prevalence of early childhood caries in children born moderate to late preterm compared to full term children. The finding suggests that the gestational age should be collected as a risk factor in the paediatric dental records.

[Perinatal risk factors of the early childhood caries]

THE AIM

Of the study was to find possible correlations between early childhood caries (ECC) prevalence and intensity and perinatal factors, such as pregnancy and birth adverse events, terms and mode of delivery, child's weight at birth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study comprised 165 3-6 years old healthy children (80 boys and 85 girls) examined in Khimki nurseries. Perinatal background data were collected through validated questionnaires.

RESULTS

ECC prevalence and dmft median were 41.2% and 1.2 teeth, correspondingly, in 3-years-olds and values growth up to 64.8% and 3.5 teeth was seen in 6-years-olds. Exact Fisher test showed significant positive correlation between adverse pregnancy events and caries risk, as ECC had 8.6 and 51.7% of children born from complicated and non-complicated pregnancies, correspondingly (p<0.05). In children born by cesarean section ECC was detected more often, than in born via vaginal delivery (62.8 vs 49.6%, correspondingly). The correlation became statistically significant by the age of 6 (p=0.02). In 6-years-olds we also noted significant correlation between mode of delivery and dmft numbers (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Adverse pregnancy events and cesarean section are ECC risk factor affecting the intensity of the disease.

Prevalence of dental caries in preschool children born preterm and/or with low birth weight: A systematic review with meta-analysis of prevalence data

The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries among preschool children who had been born preterm and/or with low birth weight (LBW) compared with those who had been born full term and/or with normal birth weight (NBW). Eight electronic databases were searched from interception up to November 2018 with no restrictions imposed regarding the date of publication or language. Two independent reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. A random-effects meta-analysis was run to pool the crude prevalence of dental caries according to gestational age and birth weight. We performed a narrative synthesis and assessed the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Fifty-nine observational studies were included (55 in the meta-analysis). The prevalence of dental caries was 39% among preterm children, 30% among full-term children, 40% among LBW children, and 33% among NBW children (I² :97%-99%). The majority of studies reported that dental caries was not associated with gestational age or birth weight, with very low certainty of evidence. Preschool children born preterm or with LBW have similar dental caries experience as those born full term or with NBW, with very low certainty of evidence (PROSPERO #CDR42018118086).

Dependence of Deciduous Tooth Eruption Terms and Tooth Growth Rate on the Weight-Height Index at Birth in Macrosomic Children over the First Year of Life

The aim of this research is to study the effect of body overweight at birth (fetal macrosomia) on the processes of tooth eruption and tooth growth during the first year of life in children in the Kharkiv City (Ukraine) population. One of the research tasks is to examine the features of deciduous teeth eruption in children who were born with macrosomia with different values of the weight-height index at birth. Materials and methods. The medical records of the children born between 1977 and 2013 have been analyzed. The database has been collected in one of the Kharkiv City clinic. The Main Group is comprised of the medical records of the children (separately for boys and girls) born with fetal macrosomia. All the medical records of the Main Group have been divided into subgroups taking into account the gender and the harmonious (well-balanced) development coefficient. The Comparison Group is comprised of the medical records of the children also born within the normal term range, but with weight and height that correspond to the gestation age (fetal normosomia). To determine the average time of the first tooth eruption, as well as the deciduous teeth growth rate for each of the groups under the study, we have used the hypothesis about a linear dependence between the number of erupted teeth and the age of the child. The statistical data processing and verification of the consistency of this hypothesis is performed using the multiple linear regression analysis with the STATISTICA 6.0 software package (Multiple Regression module). The number of delayed eruption and premature eruption cases observed is calculated along with the corresponding confidence intervals for the significance level, p, of less than 0.05, taking into account the binomial distribution of the random variable. The results of the study indicate a slowed growth rate of deciduous teeth in children born with macrosomia, as well as an increased number of cases (by a factor of 2 to 4 times) of deviations in the timing of teeth eruption compared to regional norms. The smallest growth rate of deciduous teeth and the smallest number of teeth at the age of one year are registered in macrosomic boys and macrosomic girls with a long body and a relatively reduced birth weight, as well as in macrosomic girls with intrauterine obesity. The macrosomic girls with intrauterine acceleration with obesity at the background have the largest average tooth growth rate and the largest percentage of premature eruption cases among all subgroups. Conclusions. The somatometric features of fetal macrosomia suggest the influence on the number of teeth that erupt by a certain age. The data on the deviation from the generally accepted terms of teeth eruption in children born with macrosomia, can be the basis for developing new and improving existing prevention programs aimed at preserving dental health.

Factors related to dental caries in 10-year-old Vietnamese schoolchildren

BACKGROUND

In Vietnam, research is required to provide a clearer understanding of the factors associated with dental caries. This will allow paediatric dentists and physicians to provide appropriate care to children.

AIM

To determine the factors related to dental caries and to evaluate the association between dental caries and nutritional status in 10-year-old schoolchildren.

METHOD

In 2015, 1,079 10-year-old children were randomly selected from 16 public schools in Ho Chi Minh City. Information on self-reported oral health, dental habits, eating, drinking and physical activity behaviours was obtained via a questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (height and weight) were also taken. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and nutritional classification of children was conducted using the BMI-for-age percentile. Dental plaque and dental caries (decayed and filled teeth) were recorded for both primary and permanent teeth.

RESULTS

Dental caries was experienced on primary and permanent teeth by 60.7% and 39.6%, respectively, of subjects. The factors significantly related to primary tooth decay were school location [odds ratio (OR) = 1.78], self-reported dental caries (OR = 1.36), frequency of tooth self-checking (OR = 1.32), toothbrushing habits (OR = 1.31) and nutritional status (OR = 1.77); however, the factors associated with permanent tooth decay were school location (OR = 2.66), self-reported dental caries (OR = 1.34), frequency of tooth self-checking (OR = 1.37), frequency of dental check-ups (OR = 1.35), toothbrushing habits (OR = 1.31) and nutritional status (OR = 1.39 and 1.74) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Dental caries was associated with school location, dental-related behaviours and nutritional status in 10-year-old schoolchildren in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.