• About
  • Editorial Board
  • Current Issue
  • Early access
  • Archive
Search
EJPD
  • About
  • Editorial Board
  • Current Issue
  • Early access
  • Archive
  • Sioi
  • Guidelines for Authors
  • Article submission
  • Terms of use
  • Privacy
Home Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in a paediatric italian population: An...

Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in a paediatric italian population: An epidemiological study

Authors:

  • M. Severino
    Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences - University of L’Aquila, Italy
  • Sara Caruso
    Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences - University of L’Aquila, Italy
  • G. F. Ferrazzano
    Paediatric Dentistry section, UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples, “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
  • A. Pisaneschi
    Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences - University of L’Aquila, Italy
  • F. Fiasca
    Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences - University of L’Aquila, Italy
  • Silvia Caruso
    Paediatric Dentistry, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences - University of L’Aquila, Italy
  • S. De Giorgio
    Paediatric Department, ISI (Istituto Stomatologico Italiano), Milano, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2021.22.03.3

ABSTRACT


Aim

The present work aims to evaluate, through an epidemiological study, the prevalence of Early Childhood Caries in an Italian paediatric population, aged up to 71 months, evaluating some determinants that will be illustrated in this study in order to adopt preventive care and intervene as early as possible to limit the development of this disease.

Methods

The sample consisted of 76 children aged up to 71 months who were examined at the PAediatric Dentistry Clinic of the University of l’Aquila. Parents were informed of the research that was taking place. All read the information sheet explaining the study and signed the informed consent where it was emphasised that the data collected would be treated and stored in a strictly confidential manner, pursuant to the Legislative Decree 196/2003 in force in Italy since June 30, 2003, regarding the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data. At the end of this study, a standardised questionnaire administered. The questionnaire, divided into two parts, made it possible to acquire information regarding the characteristics of the population. First part: General data of the child and the medical history of the mother and father; Second part: The age and gender of the child, the type and duration of breastfeeding, the use of sugary pacifiers, oral hygiene and frequency of consumption of sugars drinks and food, identifying the starting age.

Results

Evaluating the dmft of each child, 40.79% of our sample population is affected by ECC; 57.89% of the children used the pacifier and 13,16% of them have or have used it with honey with a p value of 0.001, therefore this parameter was statistically significant, together with the intake of candies, chocolates and sugar drinks. The data was collected for a period of about 12 months, consequently a descriptive statistical analysis was conducted in which the characteristics of the population under consideration were outlined. Discrete and nominal variables have been described with frequencies and percentages. The percentage differences were evaluated using the chi-square test and the Fisher test. Quantitative variables were expressed in terms of mean and standard deviation and significance was assessed by the Mann-Whitney test. The level of significance was established as p <0.05. A Logistic Regression was conducted to evaluate the risk factors associated with a dmft>0 setting, dmft=0/dmft>0 as the dependent variable and the variables investigated as explanatory variables. The evaluation of the association was reported as the Odds Ratio with the 95% confidence interval. The statistical analysis was carried out using the Stata 12/1C statistical package.

Conclusion

ECC is a multifactorial disease in which eating habits play a very important role. A diet that from childhood is characterised by a high consumption of sugar-rich food and drinks is highly associated with the incidence of ECC in later years.

PLUMX METRICS

Download PDF

Publication date:

September /2021

Keywords:

Eating habits, Sugar consumption, early childhood caries

Issue:

Vol.22 – n.3/2021

Page:

189 – 198

Publisher:

Ariesdue

Topic:

Prevention and lifestyle

Cite:


Harvard: M. Severino, Sara Caruso, G. F. Ferrazzano, A. Pisaneschi, F. Fiasca, Silvia Caruso, S. De Giorgio (2021) "Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in a paediatric italian population: An epidemiological study", European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 22(3), pp189-198. doi: 10.23804/ejpd.2021.22.03.3
Vancouver: M. Severino, Sara Caruso, G. F. Ferrazzano, A. Pisaneschi, F. Fiasca, Silvia Caruso, S. De Giorgio. Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in a paediatric italian population: An epidemiological study. European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry [Internet]. 2021Sep.1 [cited 2025Jun.20];22(3):189-198. Available from: https://www.ejpd.eu/abstract-pubmed/prevalence-of-early-childhood-caries-ecc-in-a-paediatric-italian-population-an-epidemiological-study/
MLA: M. Severino, Sara Caruso, G. F. Ferrazzano, A. Pisaneschi, F. Fiasca, Silvia Caruso, S. De Giorgio Prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in a paediatric italian population: An epidemiological study. European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry. 2021;22(3):189-198

Copyright (c) 2021 Ariesdue

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Linkedin
WhatsApp
Email
Print
    webfactory.bm24
    Editor in chief: dott. Luigi Paglia
    European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry © | ISSN (Online): 2035-648X
    powered by Ariesdue

    CONTACT US
    • About
    • Editorial Board
    • Current Issue
    • Early access
    • Archive
    European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry © | ISSN (Online): 2035-648X
    Registrazione del Tribunale di Milano n. 285 del 14.04.1998 | ROC 1946 - 26.09.2001
    /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Modello di contenuto: Abstracts PubMed - inizio */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Modello di contenuto: Abstracts PubMed - fine */ /* ----------------------------------------- */