Caries and Its Risk Factors among Riga Preschool Children 2–3 Years. Summary of the Doctoral Thesis

Abstract

Dental caries is an public health problem among world-wide, especially in toddlers, preschool and school- age children. This disease, if left untreated, may lead to pain, bacteraemia, reduced child growth and development disorders, and reduced quality of life for children, and heightens the risk of dental caries in the permanent dentition. The health problems are associated with large financial investment. The most important risk factors for caries development in children are cariogenic microorganism in saliva, irregular teeth brushing, the use of caries-promoting foods and drinks, parents’ education and occupation and their attitude towards oral health, their socioeconomic status. Objective of the Study to evaluate the oral health condition and caries risk factors among preschool hildren ages 2–3 years old in Riga.The methodology of the clinical examinations was coordinated with the study methodology around four countries (Germany, Brazil, Belarus, Russia) and the study was conducted in accordance with the protocol confirmed by the RSU Ethics Committee. Three hundred thirty children aged 2 to 3 years and their mothers took part in the study. The average of children was 31.5 (SD 3.8) months. Of the children 70% were caries free, but the average dmft index in the deciduous occlusion dmft was 1.55. During the study, it was concluded that there was a significant distinction between caries and the child’s gender (p < 0.001), between existent caries and plaque (p < 0.001), between the amount of Streptococcus mutans in children’s and their mothers’saliva (p < 0.001), between Lactobacillus in mothers and children (p < 0.001). The mothers’ average age was 30.85 (SD 5.14), but fathers’– 32.97 years (SD 6.41). 59% of mothers had higher education and 38% of fathers did. The majority of parents (72%) were married, but the number of the unmarried parents was also rather high – 18%. 84.56% of the children received care from both parents, and 15.44% of the children were in their mother’s care. In the study, significant correlation (Hī = 12.83; df = 2; p = 0.002) was discovered between child care and mother’s education level, between the mother’s working hours and their education level (p < 0.002), between mothers’working hours and the existence of caries in their children (p < 0.05), between mothers’education level and their teeth brushing (p = 0.01), between mothers’education level and dentist visit frequency (p = 0.01), between the mother’s education level and breastfeeding (p = 0.02).