Impact of low birthweight on early childhood caries in 6-36 months old infants in Uganda: A cross-sectional study

The association between low birth weight and/or preterm birth and dental caries -A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Studies on the association between adverse birth outcomes and dental caries in children have shown conflicting results, so the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the association between adverse birth outcomes and dental caries in children.

METHODS

We systematically searched articles in four electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase) published prior to August 2021. The odds ratio (OR) (or converted OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were processed. The certainty of evidence was assessed using GRADE's risk bias assessment tool. Random effects model was used for this meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of thirty-one observational studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled estimates indicated that children exposed to low birth weight (LBW)/preterm birth (PTB) did not experience higher dental caries in primary teeth. Subgroup analyses showed that children with LBW (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.03-1.63) were prone to have dental caries in primary teeth for cross-sectional studies, but no significant differences for prospective studies. PTB children experienced more primary caries in high-income countries (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.00-1.70) than in low- and middle-income countries.

CONCLUSIONS

The current evidence did not suggest a significant association between LBW and dental caries in children for primary teeth. Children with PTB in high-income countries had a higher prevalence of primary dental caries. Further prospective studies should adjust for confounding factors (age, oral health and family finances) to determine the definitive association between LBW/PTB and dental caries.

The role of oral health-related quality of life in the association between dental caries and height, weight and BMI among children in Bangladesh

OBJECTIVES

To examine whether oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) explained the negative associations between dental caries and anthropometric measures of child growth among a sample of 5- to 9-year-old children in Dhaka, Bangladesh, while taking potential confounding factors (maternal education, family income, study setting, child's birth weight and childhood diseases) into account. In addition, to test whether specific oral impacts had a role in explaining these associations.

METHODS

Data collection was conducted via a cross-sectional survey among children and their parents from both hospital and school settings in Dhaka. Dental caries and severe consequences of dental caries (defined here as dental sepsis) were the exposure variables, and age- and sex-adjusted height-z-scores (HAZ), weight-z-scores (WAZ) and BMI-z-scores (BAZ) were the outcome variables. OHRQoL was measured using the Bengali version of the Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for 5-year-old children (SOHO-5). First, associations between oral impacts (prevalence of overall impacts and specific items of the SOHO-5) and outcome measures were assessed. Multiple linear regression was used to assess associations between caries and anthropometric measures, adjusted for potential confounders. Oral impacts were then added to test whether their inclusion attenuated the associations between exposures and outcomes. To further investigate potential mediating role of oral impacts, structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesis that dental caries and sepsis were associated with the outcomes directly and also indirectly via oral impacts in general. A similar approach was used to investigate mediation by specific SOHO-5 items.

RESULTS

The sample consisted of 715 children, 73.1% of whom had dental caries, 37.5% presented with sepsis, and 57.3% reported at least one oral impact (SOHO-5 score ≥1). Prevalence of overall oral impacts and also the impact on 'eating difficulty' (a specific item of SOHO-5) were negatively associated with all three outcomes. Dental caries and sepsis was associated with lower HAZ, WAZ and BAZ, and adjustment for overall oral impacts considerably attenuated the associations between 'severe dental caries' and outcomes, and dental sepsis and outcomes. Using SEM, we found significant indirect associations between caries and sepsis and anthropometric measures via oral impacts (except for dental caries and HAZ). Considering specific oral impacts, eating difficulties explained about 44% and 65% of the associations between caries and anthropometric outcomes, and dental sepsis and anthropometric outcomes, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral impacts, in particular eating difficulties, appear to mediate associations between caries and markers of child growth among this population.

Relationship between preterm, low birth weight, and development defects of enamel in the primary dentition: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to systematically analyze the relationship between preterm (PT), low birth weight (LBW), and developmental defects of enamel (DDE) in the primary dentition.

METHODS

Following the retrieval of the databases, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, and cohort studies on the relationship between PT, LBW and DDE, which had been published in English or Chinese up to January 2022 were included. The data about odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were extracted and calculated using STATA 12.0 Software. Case-control studies were evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), while cross-sectional studies and cohort studies were evaluated using the JBI scale. The heterogeneity of each study was evaluated using the Q test.

RESULTS

A total of 15 studies were included, of which 8 studied the relationship between PT and DDE, and 13 explored the relationship between LBW and DDE including three about the relationship between very low birth weight (VLBW) and DDE. Seven studies explored the relationship between PT, LBW, and DDE. The results of this meta-analysis showed that both PT and LBW especially VLBW (OR= 7.19, 95% CI: 4.98-10.38) were risk factors for DDE in the primary dentition (OR= 2.33, 95% CI: 1.55-3.51) (OR= 1.67, 95% CI: 1.08-2.59). The subgroup results showed that PT and LBW were both associated with the occurrence of enamel hypoplasia (EHP) (OR= 6.89, 95% CI: 3.33-14.34; OR= 2.78, 95% CI: 2.10-3.68) rather than enamel opacity (OR= 0.94, 95% CI: 0.55-1.61; OR= 1.03, 95% CI: 0.66-1.61). There was no publication bias about the included studies (P = 0.75 > 0.05; P = 0.47 > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis demonstrated that both PT and LBW especially VLBW are associated with a higher risk of DDE in the primary dentition. PT and LBW are both related to the occurrence of EHP. However, the relationship between PT, LBW, and enamel opacity has not been verified.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?, identifier: CRD42021262761.

Relationship between preterm, low birth weight and early childhood caries: a meta-analysis of the case-control and cross-sectional study

Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most prevalent chronic infectious diseases in children. The effective prevention and treatment are heavy burdens and study hotspots for pediatric dentists. Many studies had investigated the relationship between preterm, low birth weight (LBW) and ECC; however, the results were inconsistent. The present study was conducted with an evidence-based study to figure out the relationship between preterm, LBW and ECC for the first time. After searching the database, case–control and cross-sectional studies relevant to the relationship between preterm, LBW and ECC up to December 2019 were included. The data about odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were extracted and calculated with STATA 14.0 Software. A total of 22 studies were included in this meta-analysis, 9 studies of which did not only explore the relationship between ECC with preterm, but also study the relationship between ECC and LBW, 7 studies of which explored the relationship between preterm and ECC, and 6 studies of which studied the relationship between LBW and ECC. The meta-analysis results showed that the preterm increased the risk of ECC (OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.36–1.87) significantly. There was no difference between LBW and normal birth weight in the incidence of ECC (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.94–1.33). The meta-analysis results of adjustment OR about LBW were similar to the crude OR (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.71–1.57). This meta-analysis indicated that preterm increased the risk of ECC significantly; however, LBW was not a risk factor for ECC.

Factors associated with early childhood caries among 3 to 6 year old children in India: A case control study

BACKGROUND

Early childhood caries (ECC) is a multifactorial disease as it is associated with biological, social and behavioral risk factors. However, not much research studied the influence of perinatal factors like birth weight, mode of delivery and gestational age with ECC. Aim of this study is to assess the association between ECC and risk factors, such as Socio-economic status (SES), Body mass index (BMI), Gestation age, birth weight and mode of delivery among Indian children aged 3 to 6 years.

METHODS

In this cross sectional study 690 school children aged 3-6 years were included from five government and primary schools among them 345 were suffering from ECC. Data acquisition involved an oral clinical exam, anthropometric measures and a questionnaire administered in interview form to acquire information on socio-demographic data and Gestational age; mode of delivery; birth weight and socio-economic status. Chi-squared test was used to test the association between categorical variables. Multiple logistic regression analysis used to assess strength of association between risk factors and ECC while controlling known confounders.

RESULTS

Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that male children, increasing age, preterm birth and cesarean section are associated with increased risk of developing ECC.

CONCLUSIONS

Perinatal factors play a vital role in determination ECC burden. Early life interventions and precautions can be useful strategy to control and prevent ECC.