Psychosocial determinants of oral health outcomes in young children.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine the social determinants of early childhood caries (ECC), one of the greatest public health risks affecting children, and examine alternative pathways of influence.

Methods

A physically healthy, socio-demographically high-risk sample of initially caries-free children, aged 1-4 years, was prospectively studied for 2 years. At 6-month intervals, assessments were made of caries presence from a standard dental exam; oral microbiology was assayed from saliva samples; oral hygiene behaviors and psychological and psychosocial risk exposure were derived from interviews and questionnaires.

Results

189 children were enrolled; ECC onset occurred in 48 children over the 2-year study period. A composite measure of psychosocial risk was significantly associated

SUBMITTER: Kopycka-Kedzierawski DT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11659006 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature