title: Caries prevention with xylitol lozenges in children related to maternal anxiety. A demonstration project.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This was to compare the effect of a prevention program between children of anxious and non-anxious mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mothers (n=120) with high and low dental anxiety scores (DAS>15 and DAS <8, respectively), and with high levels of mutans streptococci (>10(5)cfu/mL) were recruited at a maternity clinic of Tartu, Estonia. Two groups: 30 highly anxious, and 30 non-anxious mothers used xylitol (6 g/day) for 33 months and a non-treatment group of 60 mothers, both highly and low anxious (30 in each sub-group), acted as controls. All mothers were interviewed for oral health habits and education, and their dental health was examined. Due to discontinued participation 75% of the children (n=90) were examined at 2 and at 3 years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anxious mothers brushed less frequently (p=0.014), had a longer time since their last dental visit (p<0.0001), and a lower level of education (p<0.0001) than their non-anxious counterparts. However, maternal anxiety had no effect on children's dental health, contrary to the caries prevention program which was effective both at 2 and at 3 years of age (p<0.01; OR 6.6, 1.8-25.0 and OR 3.9, CI 1.5-10.0, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children benefited from the caries prevention program, irrespective of maternal anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, Raekoja plats 6, University of Tartu, Estonia. jana.olak@ut.ee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saag
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vahlberg
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Söderling
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karjalainen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003729:Dental Care; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007224:Infant Care; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012907:Smoking; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014099:Toothbrushing; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014993:Xylitol / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D013549:Sweetening Agents; D014100:Toothpastes; D005459:Fluorides; D014993:Xylitol