title: Comparison of primary dentition caries experience in pre-term low birth-weight and full-term normal birth-weight children aged one to six years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of the study were to determine and compare the primary dentition caries experience and the variables that may influence the occurrence of caries, in preterm low birth weight and full term normal birth weight children aged one to six years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 250 full term normal birth weight (FTNBW) and 250 preterm low birth weight (PTLBW) children one to six years, born in the two hospitals in Davangere: Bapuji Hospital and Chigatere Hospital. A purposive sampling was used to select the study group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Required and relevant information regarding demographic characteristics, feeding practices and oral hygiene practices were obtained. Dentition status and treatment need index (World Health Organization 1997) was used to record dental caries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chi-square test, Student's t-test and ANalysis Of VAriance (ANOVA) test were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant difference was observed in caries prevalence between PTLBW and FTNBW groups (P<0.05), however, the difference in mean Decayed, missing and filled teeth index (dmft) was not statistically significant (P=0.30). Statistically significant differences were observed in caries experience between the two groups in relation to exclusive breast feeding for longer duration, i.e 7-12 months (P<0.05), bottle feeding habits (P<0.05) and sticky food consumption (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant relationship was found between caries and PTLBW status though the difference in caries experience between the groups was not statistically significant, thus illustrating the higher caries risk in PTLBW children compared to FTNBW children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, Davangere, Karnataka, India. drsowmya2007@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sowmya Anaberu
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rajshekar
authors.forename: Nagesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Laxminarayan
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005248:Feeding Methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000145:classification; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class; D047929:Term Birth; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology*