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Caries

30 - Maternal Factors and Birth Delivery Impact on Early Childhood Caries

Friday, May 23, 2025
10:40 AM - 11:00 AM MDT
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    Presenting Author(s)

  • Ines Lau, DMD

    Resident
    University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago IL
    University of Illinois, Chicago
    River Forest, Illinois, United States

    • Research Mentor(s)

  • Majd Alsaleh, DDS, MS

    Clinical Assistant Professor, Pr-Doc Program Director
    University of Illinois
    University of Illinois Chicago
    Chicago, Illinois, United States

    • Program Director(s)

  • Brittaney J. Hill, DDS, MS, MPH

    Clinical Associate Professor and Residency Program Director
    University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago IL
    University of Illinois at Chicago
    Chicago, Illinois, United States

Abstract:

Objectives: To assess differences in Severe Early Childhood Caries (SECC) rates based on maternal illness during pregnancy, pregnancy term (preterm vs. full term), delivery method (C-section vs. vaginal) to identify birth-related risk factors contributing to SECC.
Methods. This IRB approved cross-sectional study conducted at UIC pediatric department, reviewed data collected from August 1, 2021, to August 31, 2023, from Axium patient charts, 0 to 3 years, with oral health outcomes assessed using dmfs (decayed, missing, and filled surfaces) scores. A total of 521 out of 801 mother-child pairs met the inclusion criteria. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, regression, the Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher’s Exact tests.



Results: Children median age was 21.4 months, and median dmfs score, 0.1. Based on dmfs score categories, 28.8% of children fell into the low category (0.0 - 0.01), 12.1% in the medium category ( >0.01 - 0.06), and 59.1% in the high category ( >0.06). Regarding maternal health during pregnancy, 79.5% were healthy, 20.5% ill. For birth term, 86.8% were full term, 13.2% preterm. For delivery method, 74.4% were vaginal delivery, 25.6% were C-sections. Statistical analysis showed that maternal health status during pregnancy was significantly associated with SECC, (P < .05 for dmfs score). Neither pregnancy term (P>.05 for dmfs score) nor delivery method (P>.05 for dmfs score) were significantly associated with SECC.



Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that maternal health factors during pregnancy play a more significant role in the development of SECC compared to birth-related factors, like pregnancy term or delivery method.

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