Who is the first visit to the dentist for? To the child or the mother?
The first visit is addressed not only to the child but especially to the mother because in the anamnesis and epidemiological investigation of caries, errors or deficiencies can be discovered either in the diet or in the hygiene of the child but also of the mother.
These, if intercepted in time – early caries – can be stopped from evolving and caries, which is about to initiate, can be prevented.
We present below the study Association between early childhood caries and maternal caries status: A cross-section study in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
Association between early childhood caries and maternal caries status: A cross-section study in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the association between early childhood caries (ECC) and maternal caries status, and the maternal perception of ECC risk factors.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 77 mother-child pairs, the children ranging from 12 to 36 months of age and their mothers, who were seeking dental care at a health center in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. Data collection was conducted using a specifi c questionnaire for mothers. Oral clinical examination of the mother-child binomial to assess caries incidence, gingival bleeding (GB) and visible plaque was done. Home visits were performed in 10% of the sample in order to observe the environmental conditions, dietary habits and dental hygiene practices.
Results: The fi ndings showed that the caries prevalence in children was 22.5 times higher in the mother who had decayed tooth (prevalence ratio [PR] = 22.5, confi dence interval [CI] 95% = 3.2–156.6, P < 0.001). GB also was observed in 14 mothers and children, the PR in pair was 12.2 (CI95% = 1.6–88.9, P < 0.001). The variables are related
for the mother-child binomial in regression linear analysis.
Conclusion: The maternal caries status was associated with ECC.
