title: A longitudinal case-control study of caries development from birth to 36 months.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this longitudinal case-control study was to investigate variables associated with caries development from birth to 36 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children (n = 1,017) who were followed up every 6 months from birth to 36 months were grouped into those that developed caries by age 30 and 36 months, respectively, and compared with children without caries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By 30 months (n = 608) there were 24 children (4%) who had caries and an additional 23 developed first caries at 36 months (n = 552), giving a total prevalence of 47 children with caries (9%) at 36 months. Children who showed caries by 30 months were more likely to be mutans streptococci (MS) colonised by 18 months (p = 0.001) compared to those who developed caries at 36 months, and showed the following variables: MS counts of >10(5) CFU/ml at 12 months (p = 0.005), missing enamel (p = 0.001), sugar in pacifier at 18 months (p = 0.02), child sleeping next to mother at 6, 18 and 24 months (p = 0.001 to p = 0.02), and exposure to household cigarette smoke at 24 months (p = 0.02). Caries at 36 months was associated with pregnancy problems (p = 0.024), mother having dental cavitations (p = 0.001) and MS presence at 36 months (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 0.1, p = 0.01 for counts <10(5) CFU/ml). Caries at both 30 and 36 months was associated with MS presence at 18 months (AOR = 6.3, p = 0.005 and AOR = 4.9, p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children who developed caries by 30 months are colonised by MS at younger ages and with higher MS counts compared with children who develop caries at 36 months.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Paediatric Dentistry, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld., Australia.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Plonka
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pukallus
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Holcombe
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Seow
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002364:Caseins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D041361:Pacifiers; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000382:microbiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D002364:Caseins; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; C447032:casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate nanocomplex; D005459:Fluorides; D002710:Chlorhexidine