Determining the Prevalence and Risk Factors for Early Childhood Caries in a Community Dental Health Clinic

Resident: Roberts

Date: 8/6/10

Article title: Determining the Prevalence and Risk Factors for Early Childhood Caries in a Community Dental Health Clinic

Author: Schroth, Robert et al.

Journal: Pediatric Dentistry

Volume: 29 number 5

Year: 2007

Purpose: to determine the prevalence and trends of patients with ECC at a community dental clinic in Manitoba, Canada, and to identify factors assoc. with ECC.

Methods: a chart review of 834 charts of children less than 6 years old seen at a community health center between the years 1991 and 2004 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Discussion/ Conclusion: The avg. age of the patient when they were first seen was 50 +- 12.7months. Those with ECC were generally older than younger among the inclusion criteria. The prevalence increased with family size and number of siblings.

No correlation was found among homes with one parent or two living at the residence.

There were no significant differences among the prevalence of ECC and sex of the child. ECC had a greater prevalence among low income households. No significant difference between rates of decay and those with or without medical issues were found. Those who had failed appointments tended to have greater amounts of decay and generally were more susceptible to being referred out.

Assessment: The results were interesting but not mind blowing. The article was full of statistical data for those that are interested.