Research on dental caries and its risk factors in young children

On 15 February at 16:00 in a public session of the Doctoral Committee of Medicine, Rīga Stradiņš University, which will take place in the Hippocrates Lecture Theatre (16 Dzirciema Street, Rīga), Simona Skrīvele will defend her doctoral thesis “Caries and its Risk Factors in Children at the Age of 2–3 in Pre-school Education Institutions in Latvia”.

Dental caries is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide, and individuals are predisposed to this disease throughout their whole life. The age of a patient is important to assess dental caries risks. Particular attention to the oral health of children has to be paid when primary teeth erupt, as well as at the age of 2-3 when primary occlusion has formed. All caries risk factors have to be viewed as a whole as each factor separately has a lesser chance to affect the development of dental caries.

In order to assess dental caries risks, several aspects have to be taken into account: general medical anamnesis, clinical examination, eating habits, use of fluoride, level of cariogenic bacteria in saliva, functions of saliva and socio-demographic factors. Recently, attention is paid also to social, economic and behavioural factors as they possibly may promote caries.

The results of research evidence that spread and intensity of dental caries in children aged 2-3 in pre-school educational establishments in Riga is high, and plague and gingivitis (inflammation of gums) affect the development of dental caries. The levels of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus in saliva of children at the age of 2-3 are high, and this may promote the development of dental caries. Social factors like education and employment of parents, as well as their attitude towards oral health significantly impact the development of dental caries in 2-3 year old children. Use of products and drinks that promote the development of dental caries, as well as irregular brushing of teeth are the most important caries risk factors for children at the age of 2-3 years.

The results of research evidence that mothers have insufficient information and knowledge to take care of the teeth of their children, nutrition and dental caries risk factors.

In co-operation with other countries (Germany, Brazil, Belarus and Russia), the results regarding oral health and social conditions obtained according to the same methodology proved that the data obtained in Rīga do not differ significantly from the data obtained in other countries.