Promotion of Oral Health Care in Infants - A Preventive Strategy to Reduce the Burden of Early Childhood Caries

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 18-22
Author(s):  
Subhathira Rajasekaran ◽  
Sham S Bhat ◽  
Vidya Bhat ◽  
Sundeep Hegde K ◽  
Neha Thilak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Early Childhood Caries ◽  
Oral Health Care ◽  
Preventive Strategy ◽  
Childhood Caries

Oral Health Knowledge of Pregnant Women on Pregnancy Gingivitis and Children's Oral Health

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Zhong ◽  
KN Ma ◽  
YS Wong ◽  
Y So ◽  
PC Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Early Childhood Caries ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
Oral Health Care ◽  
Oral Disease ◽  
Children’S Oral Health ◽  
Childhood Caries

Objective: Pregnancy gingivitis and early childhood caries remain prevalent in Hong Kong. The aim of this study was to assess pregnant women's knowledge and beliefs related to pregnancy gingivitis and children's oral health. Study design: An outreach survey was carried out in a clinic that provided antenatal examination. A written oral health questionnaire related to pregnancy gingivitis and early childhood caries was administered to pregnant women. Of the 106 pregnant women who enrolled in the study, 100 completed the questionnaires. Results: Among the 100 subjects, only 39% correctly identified that hormonal changes contribute to pregnancy gingivitis. Only 36% identified red and swollen gums as signs of gingivitis. Furthermore, 53% of the surveyed pregnant women were not sure about the amount of toothpaste to administer to a child aged 18 months to 5 years. Almost 50% assumed that a replanted avulsed tooth would probably not survive within a short extra-alveolar period of less than 60 minutes. Conclusion: Prenatal women generally lack knowledge of a common oral disease that occurs during pregnancy and of what constitutes adequate oral health care for children. Oral health care education should be implemented as part of a prenatal care program.

scholarly journals Prenatal Oral Health Care and Early Childhood Caries Prevention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 411-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Xiao ◽  
Naemah Alkhers ◽  
Dorota T. Kopycka-Kedzierawski ◽  
Ronald J. Billings ◽  
Tong Tong Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Early Childhood Caries ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Oral Health Care ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Gum Chewing ◽  
Childhood Caries

Despite the advancement of early childhood caries (ECC) prediction and treatment, ECC remains a significant public health burden in need of more effective preventive strategies. Pregnancy is an ideal period to promote ECC prevention given the profound influence of maternal oral health and behaviors on children’s oral health. However, studies have shown debatable results with respect to the effectiveness of ECC prevention by means of prenatal intervention. Therefore, this study systematically reviewed the scientific evidence relating to the association between prenatal oral health care, ECC incidence, and Streptococcus mutans carriage in children. Five studies (3 randomized control trials, 1 prospective cohort study, and 1 nested case-control study) were included for qualitative assessment. Tested prenatal oral health care included providing fluoride supplements, oral examinations/cleanings, oral health education, dental treatment referrals, and xylitol gum chewing. Four studies that assessed ECC incidence reduction were included in meta-analysis using an unconditional generalized linear mixed effects model with random study effects and age as a covariate. The estimated odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals suggested a protective effect of prenatal oral health care against ECC onset before 4 years of age: 0.12 (0.02, 0.77) at 1 year of age, 0.18 (0.05, 0.63) at 2 years of age, 0.25 (0.09, 0.64) at 3 years of age, and 0.35 (0.12, 1.00) at 4 years of age. Children’s S. mutans carriage was also significantly reduced in the intervention group. Future studies should consider testing strategies that restore an expectant mother’s oral health to a disease-free state during pregnancy.

scholarly journals Early childhood caries and oral health care of Hong Kong preschool children

2019 ◽  
Vol Volume 11 ◽  
pp. 27-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kitty Jieyi Chen ◽  
Sherry Shiqian Gao ◽  
Duangporn Duangthip ◽  
Edward Chin Man Lo ◽  
Chun Hung Chu
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Early Childhood Caries ◽  
Oral Health Care ◽  
Childhood Caries

scholarly journals The Effect of Physician Oral Health Services on Dental Use and Expenditures under General Anesthesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.D. Meyer ◽  
R. Wang ◽  
M.J. Steiner ◽  
J.S. Preisser
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
General Anesthesia ◽  
Early Childhood Caries ◽  
Dental Treatment ◽  
Oral Health Care ◽  
Oral Health Services ◽  
The Impact

Background: Despite early evidence touting the effectiveness of physician-provided oral health services (POHS), recent evidence suggests these services might have little impact on caries-related outcomes in children. General anesthesia (GA) is often used to treat early childhood caries and may be considered the most extreme utilization outcome. We sought to assess the impact of POHS utilization on dental GA utilization and expenditures. Methods: We used the Medicaid claims of a birth cohort of children born in 2008 in North Carolina ( N = 32,558) to determine the impact of POHS on dental utilization and expenditures under GA for individual children. Children were followed until their eighth birthday. We analyzed the association of the number of prior POHS visits with visit-specific outcomes of dental treatment under GA using population-averaged models fit with generalized estimating equations with exchangeable working correlation structure. Results: Children with 2 or more previous POHS visits had reduced odds of GA (odds ratio [OR] = 0.93; confidence interval [CI], 0.87–0.99; P = 0.029) and expenditures ($114; CI,−$152.61 to −$75.19; P < 0.001) compared to those without physician-provided oral health visits, adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and geographic residence. Dental expenditures did not differ between POHS and non-POHS subjects at non-GA visits. Conclusions: POHS decreased the odds of having dental GA treatment and dental expenditures at GA visits. The role of physicians in oral health care can reduce the impact on the most severe outcome—treatment under general anesthesia. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The results of this study have important financial implications for state Medicaid programs and disease management programs trying to mitigate the costs of treating early childhood caries under general anesthesia. Children who receive physician oral health care are less likely to use and more likely to save money on general anesthesia to complete dental treatment.

scholarly journals Sugary Liquids in the Baby Bottle: Risk for Child Undernutrition and Severe Tooth Decay in Rural El Salvador

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 260
Author(s):  
Priyanka Achalu ◽  
Abhishek Bhatia ◽  
Bathsheba Turton ◽  
Lucy Luna ◽  
Karen Sokal-Gutierrez
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Early Childhood Caries ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Tooth Decay ◽  
Child Undernutrition ◽  
Baby Bottle ◽  
Childhood Caries

As communities worldwide shift from consuming traditional diets to more processed snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), increases in child obesity and tooth decay and persistence of undernutrition are particularly apparent in Latin American countries. Further evidence of shared risk factors between child undernutrition and poor oral health outcomes is needed to structure more effective health interventions for children’s nutrition. This study aims to identify dietary, oral health, and sociodemographic risk factors for child undernutrition and severe early childhood caries (sECC) among a convenience sample of 797 caregiver–child pairs from rural Salvadoran communities. Caregiver interviews on child dietary and oral health practices were conducted, and their children’s height, weight, and dental exam data were collected. Multivariable regression analyses were performed using RStudio (version 1.0.143). Caregiver use of SSBs in the baby bottle was identified as a common significant risk factor for child undernutrition (p = 0.011) and sECC (p = 0.047). Early childhood caries (p = 0.023) was also a risk factor for developing undernutrition. Future maternal–child health and nutrition programs should coordinate with oral health interventions to discourage feeding children SSBs in the baby bottle and to advocate for policies limiting SSB marketing to young children and their families.

scholarly journals An ecological study on the association between universal health service coverage index, health expenditures, and early childhood caries

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan ◽  
◽  
Maha El Tantawi ◽  
Jorma I. Virtanen ◽  
Carlos Alberto Feldens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Early Childhood ◽  
Linear Regression ◽  
Health Expenditure ◽  
Early Childhood Caries ◽  
Global Prevalence ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
Service Coverage ◽  
Universal Health ◽  
Childhood Caries

Abstract Background Universal health care (UHC) may assist families whose children are most prone to early childhood caries (ECC) in accessing dental treatment and prevention. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between UHC, health expenditure and the global prevalence of ECC. Methods Health expenditure as percentage of gross domestic product, UHC service coverage index, and the percentage of 3–5-year-old children with ECC were compared among countries with various income levels using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Three linear regression models were developed, and each was adjusted for the country income level with the prevalence of ECC in 3–5-year-old children being the dependent variable. In model 1, UHC service coverage index was the independent variable whereas in model 2, the independent variable was the health expenditure as percentage of GDP. Model 3 included both independent variables together. Regression coefficients (B), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), P values, and partial eta squared (ƞ2) as measure of effect size were calculated. Results Linear regression including both independent factors revealed that health expenditure as percentage of GDP (P < 0.0001) was significantly associated with the percentage of ECC in 3–5-year-old children while UHC service coverage index was not significantly associated with the prevalence of ECC (P = 0.05). Every 1% increase in GDP allocated to health expenditure was associated with a 3.7% lower percentage of children with ECC (B = − 3.71, 95% CI: − 5.51, − 1.91). UHC service coverage index was not associated with the percentage of children with ECC (B = 0.61, 95% CI: − 0.01, 1.23). The impact of health expenditure on the prevalence of ECC was stronger than that of UHC coverage on the prevalence of ECC (ƞ2 = 0.18 vs. 0.05). Conclusions Higher expenditure on health care may be associated with lower prevalence of ECC and may be a more viable approach to reducing early childhood oral health disparities than UHC alone. The findings suggest that currently, UHC is weakly associated with lower global prevalence of ECC.

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