Association between early childhood caries and behavior as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist.
OBJECTIVE
This study's purpose was to use a standardized behavioral assessment instrument to compare the observed behavior of caries-free (CF) with caries-active (CA) children requiring restoration under general anesthesia (GA).


METHODS
Healthy 30- to 60-month-olds, either CF or in need of dental restoration under GA, were selected in 4 equal-size cohorts of 30 subjects from both private practice settings and a clinic. Trained assistants administered the child behavior checklist, a standardized, age-appropriate instrument to assess child behavior problems to parents at the time of appointment.


RESULTS
The 60 CF and 60 CA subjects did not differ significantly (P<.05) between clinic and private practice for age, gender, and race and were collapsed into groups of 60 CF and 60 CA children (mean ages=41.2 and 45.2 months, respectively). Compared to CF children, CA children had significantly higher (more problems) scores for categories of: anxious/depressed; sleep problems; aggressive behavior; externalizing and total problems; and attention deficit/hyperactivity problems. CA children scores for withdrawn, sleep problems, and attention deficit/hyperactivity problems were also higher than normal, but neither group had scores outside normative ranges.


CONCLUSIONS
No significant age, gender, behavior, or race differences were noted for site of care, but caries-active children had significantly more behavior problems than caries-free children.
Williamson
Robert
R
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Detroit Mercy Dental School, Detroit, Mich, USA.
Oueis
Hassan
H
Casamassimo
Paul S
PS
Thikkurissy
Sarat
S
D000367:Age Factors; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011581:Psychological Tests