Association between prolonged breast-feeding and early childhood caries: a hierarchical approach.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the association between prolonged breastfeeding and early childhood caries(ECC) with adjustment for important confounders, using hieraschical approach. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study involved 260 low-income children (18-42 months). The number of decayed teeth was used as a measure of caries. Following a theoretical framework, the hierarchical model was built in a forward fashion, by adding the following levels in succession: level 1: age; level 2: social variables; level 3: health variables; level 4: behavioral variables; level 5: oral hygiene-related variables; level 6: oral hygiene quality measured by visible plaque; and level 7: contamination by mutans streptococci. Sequential forward multiple Poisson regression analysis was employed. RESULTS: Breast-feeding was not a risk factor for ECC after adjustment for some confounders (incidence density ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.59, P = 0.363). CONCLUSION: Prolonged breast-feeding was not a risk factor for ECC while age, high sucrose comption between main meals and the quality of oral higiene were associated with disease in children.

Diagnóstico clínico e radiográfico na detecção de cáries proximais em molares decíduos e permanentes / Concordance between clinical and radiographic diagnosis for approximal caries in primary molars and first permanent molars

O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a concordância dos exames clínico e radiográfico na detecção de cáries proximais em molares decíduos e primeiros molares permanentes. Foram selecionadas 200 crianças na faixa etária de 3 a 11 anos de idade, atendidas na Faculdade de Odontologia, da Universidade Federal do Maranhão. Todas as crianças deveriam apresentar os dentes posteriores com as cristas marginais íntegras, independente do estado das superfícies proximais. O exame clínico foi conduzido por um examinador com o auxílio de fio dental e sonda exploradora. A técnica "bite-wing" foi utilizada nas tomadas radiográficas, e a avaliação radiográfica foi realizada por um examinador utilizando negatoscópio e lupa. As características clínicas e radiográficas foram avaliadas, segundo critérios padronizados. Os dados foram analisados pelo teste McNemar com nível de significância de 5%. O exame radiográfico identificou um maior número de cáries proximais em esmalte (p<0,0001) e dentina (p<0,05), quando comparado ao exame clínico. Ao investigar o grau de concordância entre os exames, o exame radiográfico foi mais eficaz no diagnóstico de cáries proximais (p=0,0001). Conclui-se que o exame radiográfico detectou maior número de lesões cariosas proximais em relação ao clínico, sendo considerado um importante diagnóstico complementar para esse tipo de lesão.

This study aimed to compare the clinical and radiographic diagnosis for approximal caries in primary molars and first permanent molars. Two hundred children from 3 to 11 years old assisted by University Of Maranhão School Of Dentistry, were selected. All children should present the posterior teeth with intact marginal ridges, regardless of the status of proximal surfaces. Clinical examination was performed by an examiner using dental floss and dental explorer. The "bite-wing" technique was used in the radiographic examination, and radiographic analysis was performed by an examiner using a light box and a magnifying glass. The clinical and radiographic characteristics were evaluated according to standardized criteria. Data were analyzed by McNemar test with a significance level of 5%. The radiographic examination identified a higher number of proximal caries in enamel (p<0.0001) and dentin (p<0.05) compared to the clinical examination. Regarding the concordance between clinical and radiographic diagnosis, the radiographic examination was more effective in the diagnosis of proximal caries (p=0.0001). It was concluded that radiographic examination detected a higher number of proximal carious lesions in relation to clinical diagnosis, being considered as an important complement for diagnose this type of lesion.