Original Paper

Oral Hygiene and Parent-Related Factors during Early Childhood in Relation to Approximal Caries at 15 Years of Age
A. Alm^{a, d}, L.K. Wendt^{b, c}, G. Koch^b, D. Birkhed<sup>d

a</sup>Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Kärnsjukhuset, Skövde;
^bDepartment of Paediatric Dentistry, The Institute for Postgraduate Dental Education, Jönköping;
^cDepartment of Natural Science and Biomedicine, School of Health Sciences, Jönköping University, Jönköping;
^dDepartment of Cariology, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden

Address of Corresponding Author

Caries Res 2008;42:28-36 (DOI: 10.1159/000111747)

  Key Words

• Adolescents
• Approximal caries
• Caries experience
• Fluoride toothpaste
• Pre-school children

  Abstract

The aim was to investigate whether oral hygiene habits and parent-related factors, recorded in early childhood, have a predictive value in relation to approximal caries experience (including initial caries lesions) at the age of 15 years (n = 568). Data were selected from examinations, interviews and questionnaires at 1 and 3 years and bitewing radiographs at 15 years. Four levels of cut-off points for the statistical analysis were used: DFa = 0, > 0, 4 and 8. In the final logistic regression analyses, mother's self-estimation of her oral health care being less good remained statistically significant and predicted a caries experience of DFa > 0 at 15 years. The following four variables predicted DFa 4: (1) female gender, (2) plaque on maxillary incisors at 1 year, (3) mother's self-estimation of her oral health care being less good and (4) father being less satisfied with his social situation. Two variables predicted DFa 8: (1) toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste just once a day, and (2) father being less satisfied with his social situation. Furthermore, children who failed to attend the examination at 1 year of age had 6.95 ± 5.36 (mean ± SD) DFa at 15 years compared with 3.10 ± 3.85 for children who were examined at 1 year of age (p < 0.01). To conclude, factors explaining good dental health at 15 years of age pertained to both children and parents. Thus, it seems that good oral hygiene habits, established in early childhood, provide a foundation for a low experience of approximal caries in adolescents.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dowen Birkhed
Department of Cariology, Institute of Odontology
Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, PO Box 450
SE-405 30 Göteborg (Sweden)
Tel. +46 31 773 3201, Fax +46 31 825 733, E-Mail birkhed@odontologi.gu.se

  Article Information

Received: March 13, 2007
Accepted after revision: September 19, 2007
Published online: November 27, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 9
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 5, Number of References : 36