Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in South Africa: A Systematic Review Protocol (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Young children are at the highest risk of developing dental caries as they at high risk for dental caries as they have a lack of autonomy over their diet and oral hygiene practices. Dental caries develops over time due to demineralization of tooth substance (enamel) resulting from acid production of bacterial metabolism from sugars. Early-onset of dental caries often results in asymptomatic presentation, but if left untreated, it can result in severe pain, infection and dentoalveolar abscesses. Early childhood caries (ECC) is defined as dental caries in children aged six years and younger and is a significant public health problem in South Africa. According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, untreated dental caries of primary teeth affects 532 million children. Untreated dental caries has many detrimental effects which can affect the physical development and reduce the quality of life of affected children. Furthermore, long term untreated dental caries can result in school absenteeism, low BMI and poor educational outcomes. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and severity of ECC in South Africa in children under 6 years of age. METHODS All cross-sectional documenting the prevalence and severity of dental disease (decayed, missing and filled teeth scores) will be included. Various databases will be searched for eligible studies, and those included will be done by using prespecified inclusion criteria. Only studies conducted on South African children who are aged 6 years and under, will be included. There will be no restriction on the time nor language of publication. The quality of all eligible studies will be analyzed by a risk of bias tool developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The results will be presented narratively, and if possible, a meta-analysis will be conducted. RESULTS The protocol is registered with PROSPERO. The literature search was conducted in November 2018 and was repeated in November 2020. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study will be used to advise stakeholders of the prevalence and severity of dental disease in children less than 6 years of age in South Africa.

Download Full-text

Dental Caries Severity and Nutritional Status of Nigerian Preschool Children

JDR Clinical & Translational Research ◽

10.1177/23800844211002108 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 238008442110021

Author(s):

O.O. Olatosi ◽

A.A. Alade ◽

T. Naicker ◽

T. Busch ◽

A. Oyapero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Dental Caries ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Z Score ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Malnourished Children ◽

Z Scores ◽

Childhood Caries

Introduction: Malnutrition in children is one of the most prevalent global health challenges, and malnourished children have a higher risk of death from childhood diseases. Early childhood caries (ECC) is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Complications from ECC such as pain, loss of tooth/teeth, and infection can undermine a child’s nutrition and growth. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the severity of decay, missing, and filled tooth (dmft) by nutritional status using the z scores of the anthropometric measurements: height for age (HFA), weight for age (WFA), weight for height (WFH), and body mass index for age (BMIA) among children with ECC in Nigeria. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in 5 local government areas (LGAs) in Lagos State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used. Results: A total of 273 cases of ECC were included in the analyses (mean age 4.19 ± 0.96 y). Overall, the mean dmft was 3.04 ± 2.28, and most (96%) were accounted for by untreated decay. The distribution of dmft within the different z score categories of BMIA (<–3 = severely wasted, –2 to –3 = wasted, –2 to +2 = normal, +2 to +3 = overweight and >+3 = obese) showed the highest dmft scores among the combined severely wasted and wasted groups, lowest among children with normal z scores, and intermediate in the overweight and obese groups. There was a significant negative correlation between BMIA z score, WFH z score, and dmft ( r = −0.181, P < 0.05 and r = −0.143, P < 0.05, respectively). However, the correlations between HFA z score, WFA z score, and dmft were positive but not significant ( r = 0.048, P = 0.44 and r = 0.022, P = 0.77, respectively). Conclusion: Our study showed an increased severity of dental caries among severely wasted or wasted children with ECC compared to those of normal or overweight. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The results from this study will raise awareness among clinicians and policy makers on the need for a primary prevention program for early childhood caries in countries with high burden of malnutrition and limited resources. Also, it will help draw the attention of clinicians to the caries status of malnourished children that can be managed to improve the nutritional outcomes.

Download Full-text

Early Childhood Dental Caries, Mouth Pain, and Malnutrition in the Ecuadorian Amazon Region

10.20944/preprints201704.0146.v1 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Marvin So ◽

Yianni A. Ellenikiotis ◽

Hannah M. Husby ◽

Cecilia Leonor Paz ◽

Brittany Seymour ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Dental Caries ◽

Young Children ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Multivariate Regression Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Nutrition Status ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Childhood Caries

Malnutrition and dental caries in early childhood remain persistent and intertwined global health challenges, particularly for indigenous and geographically-remote populations. To examine the prevalence and associations between early childhood dental caries, parent-reported mouth pain and malnutrition in the Amazonian region of Ecuador, we conducted a cross-sectional study of the oral health and nutrition status of 1,407 children from birth through age 6 in the “Alli Kiru” program (2011-2013). We used multivariate regression analysis to examine relationships between severe caries, parent-reported mouth pain measures, and nutritional status. The prevalence of dental caries was 65.4%, with 44.7% of children having deep or severe caries, and 33.8% reporting mouth pain. The number of decayed, missing and filled teeth dmft) increased dramatically with age. Malnutrition was prevalent, with 35.9% of children stunted, 1.1% wasted, 7.4% underweight, and 6.8% overweight. As mouth pain increased in frequency, odds for severe caries increased. For each unit increase in mouth pain frequency interfering with sleeping, children had increased odds for underweight (AOR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.02 – 1.54) and decreased odds for overweight (AOR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.58 – 0.97). This relationship was most pronounced among 3-6 year-olds. Early childhood caries, mouth pain and malnutrition were prevalent in this sample of young children. Parent-reported mouth pain was associated with severe caries, and mouth pain interfering with sleeping was predictive of poor nutritional status. We demonstrate the utility of a parsimonious parent-reported measure of mouth pain to predict young children’s risk for severe early childhood caries and malnutrition, which has implications for community health interventions.

Download Full-text

Hubungan Oral Hygiene Habits dengan Early Childhood Caries (ECC) pada Balita Di Kota Padang

Andalas Dental Journal ◽

10.25077/adj.v8i1.107 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 33-41

Author(s):

Zhafirah Muharani Nasution ◽

Reni Nofika ◽

Susi Susi

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Dental Caries ◽

Oral Hygiene ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Strong Relationship ◽

Deciduous Teeth ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Oral Hygiene Habits ◽

Childhood Caries

Dental caries is a disease of hard tissue of the tooth due to bacterial activities that cause loss mineral structure of the tooth. Dental caries that occur in deciduous teeth on children under 71 months is called Early Childhood Caries (ECC). Dental caries is still one of the most common dental and oral health problem experienced by children in the world. Some surveys in Cambodia and Indonesia show that a high prevalence and severity of ECC which was 90% in children aged 3-5 years. Oral hygiene habits were identified as one of the risk factors of caries. Some studies suggest that there is a strong relationship between the behavior of maintaining oral hygiene and the prevalence of dental caries. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between oral hygiene habits and early childhood caries on toddler in Padang. This study used cross sectional design. The samples of this study was 107 childrens aged 3-5 years in Padang. The location was selected through stratified random sampling technique and samples was selected through consecutive sampling techniques. Data was collected in Gunung Pangilun village and Piai Tanah Sirah village. Data was collected using a questionaires and intraoral examination. Data was analyzed by Chi-Square with p<0,05. The result of this study that there was a significant relationship between oral hygiene habits and ECC on toddler in Padang (p=0,008). The conclusion of this study was that oral hygiene habits is associated with early childhood caries on toddler in Padang.

Download Full-text

Dietary intake and early childhood caries

Revista Estomatología ◽

10.25100/re.v26i2.7633 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 8-9

Author(s):

Lina María Villegas ◽

Judy Elena Villavicencio ◽

Adolfo Contreras

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Early Childhood ◽

Dental Caries ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Tooth Enamel ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Single Origin ◽

The Mean ◽

The Caribbean ◽

Childhood Caries

Early childhood caries (ECC) affect children less than 71 months of age (1) and it represents a public health problem in countries worldwide (2–4). The mean ECC prevalence in United Nations Countries was 23.8% in children younger than 36 months and 57.3% in children aged 36 to 71 months. East Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean were the worst affected by ECC among children aged 36 to 71 months (5). Dental caries pertains to a group of diseases that are estimated “complex” or “multifactorial,” with no single origin pathway (6) and it is resulted by the interaction of bacteria, mainly Streptococci mutans (SM) and actobacilli (LB), and sugary foods on tooth enamel (6,7). Additionally, there must be a lack of oral hygiene and lack of use of fluoride (8).

Download Full-text

Feeding Practices and Early Childhood Caries: A Cross-Sectional Study of Preschool Children in Kanpur District, India

ISRN Dentistry ◽

10.1155/2013/275193 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Santhebachalli Prakasha Shrutha ◽

Grandim Balarama Gupta Vinit ◽

Kolli Yada Giri ◽

Sarwar Alam

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Oral Hygiene ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Feeding Practices ◽

Caries Experience ◽

Oral Health Promotion ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Falling Asleep ◽

Childhood Caries

Background. Early childhood caries (ECC) is a public health problem due to its impact on children’s health, development, and wellbeing. The objective of this study was to assess the caries experience in 3–5-year-old children and to evaluate the relationship with their mothers’ practices regarding feeding and oral hygiene habits in Kanpur. Method. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken on 2000 (974 boys and 1026 girls) children aged 3–5 years from a random sample of preschools in Kanpur district, India. Dental caries experience was recorded using WHO criteria. A pretested questionnaire with 9 questions was used for collecting information regarding mothers’ practices regarding feeding and oral hygiene practices. Chi-square test (χ2) and Student’s t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results. The prevalence of ECC was 48% with mean dmft of 2.03 ± 2.99. Boys (57%) were affected more than girls (43%) which was found to be statistically significant (P<0.05). Caries prevalence was high and statistically significant (P<0.05) among those who were breast fed for longer duration, during nighttime, those falling asleep with bottle, and those fed with additional sugar in milk. Conclusion. Determining the role of feeding practices on early childhood caries can help in the development of appropriate oral health promotion strategies.

Download Full-text

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children with Severe Early Childhood Caries

Biomedical & Pharmacology Journal ◽

10.13005/bpj/1630 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 219-225

Author(s):

Deepa Gurunathan ◽

A. Swathi ◽

M. Senthil Kumar

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Early Childhood ◽

Dental Caries ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Economic Consequences ◽

Deficiency Anemia ◽

Dental Eruption ◽

Childhood Caries

Dental caries is an international public health challenge, especially amongst young children. Early childhood caries (ECC) is a serious public health problem in both developing and industrialised countries. ECC can begin early in life, progresses rapidly in those who are at high risk, and often goes untreated. Its consequences can affect the immediate and long-term quality of life of the child's family and can have significant social and economic consequences beyond the immediate family as well. ECC can be a particularly virulent form of caries, beginning soon after dental eruption, developing on smooth surfaces, progressing rapidly, and having a lasting detrimental impact on the dentition. Children experiencing caries as infants or toddlers have a much greater probability of subsequent caries in both the primary and permanent dentitions. Iron deficiency being the most common nutritional deficiency in childhood is often seen associated with severe caries destruction. Lack of iron is one of the most common dietary deficiency observed worldwide particularly in developing countries. In some instances this deficiency is alleviated by supplementary foods with added iron salts. In many countries where the iron deficiency is apparent, the prevalence of dental caries is high.

Download Full-text

Assesment of the Impact of Severe Early Childhood Caries on the Quality of Life of Preschool Children and their Parents

Journal of Pediatric Dentistry ◽

10.14744/jpd.2020.15_20 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 20-25

Author(s):

Maria MTALSI

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Early Childhood ◽

Oral Health ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Life Quality ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Preventive Program ◽

The Impact ◽

Childhood Caries

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of the early childhood caries (S-ECC) and its impact on preschool children’s life (aged 4-6), as well as on their parents, in one of the most popular prefectures in Casablanca, Morocco. Materials and Methods: Parents of 546 children attending 11 randomly selected preschools (7 private and 4 public institutions) were invited to complete 13 items of an oral health questionnaire and had their children undergo a dental examination. The quality of life was evaluated using the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS). Statistical analysis: The data collected were analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). To find the comparison between groups, Chi-square test was used. Results: The prevalence of the ECC and the S-ECC were 74.2% and 47.3% respectively. The negative effect of S-ECC on children’s quality of life has many aspects: 59.3% of them have experienced tooth pain, 41.5% have reported eating difficulties, and 41.3% have had drinking difficulties. Moreover, 40% of parents expressed feelings of guilt and 10.6% had to take time off work due to their children’s oral health status. On another note, the financial impact of the S-ECC was also significant. Conclusion: The S-ECC negatively impacts the life quality of children aged between 4 and 6 years old in addition to their parents’. This suggests a need for further strategic planning and preventive program adapted to such a public health problem.

Download Full-text

Maternal and infant risk factors for early childhood caries in South Africa: A Systematic Review Protocol (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.26701 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Faheema Kimmie-Dhansay ◽

Robert Barrie ◽

Tina Roberts ◽

Sudeshni Naidoo

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

South Africa ◽

Early Childhood ◽

South African ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Diabetes Incidence ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Obesity And Diabetes ◽

Childhood Caries

BACKGROUND Early childhood caries (ECC), is a common disorder characterized by the presence of one or more decayed (non-cavitated or cavitated lesions), missing (due to caries), or filled tooth surfaces of primary teeth in children 71 months or younger. South Africa has a diverse population in terms of culture, education, income and occupation. This diversity is due to the consequences of historical racial discrimination, poverty, unemployment, lack of accessibility to health services and quality of education. These factors make South Africa unique, and the disease and risk profiles for this country differs from other countries in similar stages of development. For these reasons, it is important to identify what the unique maternal and infant risk factors of ECC are in the South African context. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to determine the risk factors associated with the incidence/prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) in South Africa in children under the age of 6 years. METHODS All cross-sectional and cohort studies documenting the risk factors associated with the prevalence and incidence of dental disease and severity (decayed, missing and filled scores) will be included. Seven databases will be searched for eligible studies and those included will be based on a pre-specified inclusion criteria. Only studies conducted on South African children who are aged 6 years and younger, where dental caries risk factors are documented will be included. There is no restriction on the time or language of publication. Included articles will be scrutinized for quality by using a risk of bias tool developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The results will be presented narratively, and if possible, a meta-analysis will be performed. RESULTS The protocol is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42020216455. The literature search was conducted in November 2020. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study will provide a framework to inform medical and dental personnel to highlight mothers and infants at risk from developing ECC. This framework may be used to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity and diabetes incidence in children. CLINICALTRIAL PROSPERO, CRD42020216455

Download Full-text

Hubungan Perilaku Orang Tua dengan Early Childhood Caries Pada Anak Usia 2-3 Tahun di Kota Padang

Andalas Dental Journal ◽

10.25077/adj.v9i1.99 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 29-37

Author(s):

Mutiara Hapka ◽

Susi Susi ◽

Aria Fransiska

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Sampling Method ◽

Good Practice ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Parental Knowledge ◽

P Value ◽

Parental Attitude ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Childhood Caries

Caries is a public health problem in the world. According to WHO, an estimated 60-90% of children experience caries. Caries in primary teeth is known as Early Childhood Caries (ECC). The prevalence of ECC in Bukittinggi in 2018 reached 69.2%. ECC often occurs, but less attention from parents, even though parents play an important role in forming behaviors that support or not oral health on children.The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between parental behavior and Early Childhood Caries on children aged 2-3 years in Padang.The methods of this study used the cross sectional design, with the total sampel were 107 children aged 2-3 years in Padang. The location was selected through Multistage Random Sampling Method and samples was selected through Consecutive Sampling Method. Collecting data is using by questionares and intra-oral examination that were analyzed by Chi-Square test. The results of this study was prevalece of ECC in children aged 2 to 3 years in Padang is 72.9% and def-t index is 3.76. Parents who have a high level of knowledge about 59,8%, 84,1% have a good attitude, and about 63,6% have good practice toward health behavior. The result of analysis showed that p value between parental knowledge and ECC was 0.339, p value between parental attitude and ECC was 0.005 and p value between parental practice and ECC was 1.000. The conclusions of this study is there was no relation between parental knowledge and practice with ECC. There was a significant relation between parental attitude and EEC in children aged 2 to 3 years in Padang.

Download Full-text

Early childhood caries and oral hygiene practices among preschool children in Mangaluru city

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20194518 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (10) ◽

pp. 4494

Author(s):

Savitha Krishnaswamy ◽

Jagannath Purushotham ◽

Krishna Bhat

Keyword(s):

Early Childhood ◽

Preschool Children ◽

Oral Hygiene ◽

Early Childhood Caries ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Hygiene Practices ◽

The North ◽

Childhood Caries

Background: Dental caries in young children is a serious public health problem that is highly underestimated in a country like India as it is not life threatening. The rapid westernization and urbanization in Mangaluru city has led to the inclusion of more refined sugars, frequent snacking habit and intake of more chocolates and candies in children, making them more susceptible to early childhood caries (ECC). This study intends to determine prevalence of ECC.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 240 preschool children aged 3-6 years studying in private preschools in the North Zone of Mangaluru city, Karnataka, India. Data collection was done using semi-structured and self-administered questionnaire given to the parent; examination of the child’s oral cavity was also done.Results: The prevalence of ECC in preschool children in Mangaluru City was 57.5%. A statistically significant association was seen between oral hygiene practices and father's education level (p=0.033). The oral hygiene practices were found to be satisfactory with the majority (62.1%) of them following good oral hygiene practices.Conclusions: Lack of awareness about ECC has further contributed to the increase in the prevalence and severity of the problem hence revealing the need for effective preventive methods.

Download Full-text