Environmental risk factors analysis in paediatric oral health: a cross-sectional study

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ABSTRACT

Aim

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between environmental risk factors [adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), eating habits, hygiene habits, body mass index (BMI)] with the presence of caries in a university-based cohort of paediatric patients.

Material and methods

A total of 118 paediatric patients were included in the study. In addition to the evaluation of clinical (vitality test, percussion test) and radiographic (X-ray bitewing, OPT) parameters, patients’ lifestyle was investigated through validated questionnaries. Data regarding decayed, missing, filled teeth index were recorded for both permanent (DMFT) and deciduous teeth (dmft). Logistic/linear regression models (crude estimates) and multiple regression models (logistic/linear) adjusted for confounding factors were built to evaluate the association between lifestyle habits and caries. The results were reported as Odds Ratio (OR – con 95% CI) for logistic regression models and Mean Difference (MD – con 95% CI) for linear models.

Results

Poor adherence to MD increased the risk of heaving decayed deciduous teeth with a significant increase in DMFT index
(p=0.01). BSQ index regarding snack assumption seems to influence decayed and filled deciduous teeth (p<0.001).

Conclusion

The present study confirmed the role of nutritional habits in caries development in the paediatric population, especially
for deciduous dentition. Further clinical studies are needed to improve the quality of administered questionnaires and evaluate the cause/effect relationship between environmental risk factors and caries.

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