Early childhood caries risk assessment in 1-year-olds evaluated at 6-years of age.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to identify caries risk factors in 1-year-olds predicting dentine caries in 6-year-olds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Caries risk assessment was performed in 804 one-year-olds. Their parents answered a questionnaire, regarding family factors, general health, food habits and oral hygiene. Clinical examinations and caries risk assessments at 1, 3 and 6 years of age were performed. Simple and multiple regression analyses were used for identification of caries-associated factors. RESULTS: Caries risk was found in 5% of the 1-year-olds, and 12% of the 3-year-olds. Dentine caries was found in 3% of the 3-year-olds and in 16% of the 6-year-olds. Caries risk assessment was associated with caries at 6 years of age (OR = 5.1, p < .001). Multiple logistic regression analysis found the following variables associated with caries at 6 years of age: Caries in sibling (OR = 2.1, p = .012), Beverage other than water (OR = 2.1, p < .001), Night meal (OR = 1.9, p = .002), Presence of mutans streptococci (MS) (OR = 1.6, p = .033) and Male gender (OR = 1.5, p = .053). An overall caries risk assessment was more reliable than any single caries risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: Caries risk assessment for 1-year-olds in a region with low caries prevalence has limited accuracy to predict dental caries at 6 years of age. Caries risk often changes over time and should be reassessed on a regularly basis. The presence of MS in 1-year-olds did not increase the prognostic accuracy at 6 years of age.

Dentin caries risk indicators in 1-year-olds. A two year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Early childhood caries (ECC) risk factors are suspected to vary between regions with different caries prevalence. AIM: Identify ECC risk factors for 1-year-olds predicting dentin caries at 3 years of age in a region with low caries prevalence. DESIGN: Caries risk was assessed by dental hygienist or dental assistant in 779 one-year-olds. The oral mutans streptococci (MS) score was performed from a tooth surface or (in pre-dentate children) from oral mucosa. A parental questionnaire with questions regarding family factors (siblings with or without caries), general health, food habits (night meals, breastfeeding, other beverage than water), oral hygiene habits and emerged teeth were answered by parents of the 1-year-olds. Dentin caries was assessed when the children were 3-year-olds. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were used for identification of caries-associated factors. RESULTS: An increased caries risk was assessed in 4.4% of the 1-year-olds. Dentin caries was found in 2.6% of the 3-year-olds. Caries risk at 1 year was associated with caries at 3 years (OR = 6.5, p = .002). Multiple regression analysis found the variables Beverages other than water (OR = 7.1, p < 0.001), Caries in sibling (OR = 4.8, p = .002), High level of MS (score 2-3) (OR = 3.4, p = .03) and Night meal (OR = 3.0, p = .03) to be associated with caries. The single variables Beverage other than water between meals and Caries in sibling were more reliable than Caries risk assessed performed by dental personnel. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioural, family and microbial factors are important when assessing caries risk among 1-year-olds in a region with low caries experience.