title: Increased number of teeth predict acquisition of mutans streptococci in infants.
abstract: This longitudinal study of 194 very-low birthweight (VLBW) and 184 normal birthweight (NBW) infants hypothesized that the causal pathway between birth group (VLBW or NBW) and mutans streptococci (MS) acquisition (presence) at 18-20 months is mediated by biological, behavioral, and caregiver MS levels. Biological (number of teeth at 8 and 18-20 months and enamel hypoplasia) and behavioral (brushing/cleaning, sweet snacks, breastfeeding, and dental access) factors were assessed using dental examinations and caregiver questionnaire responses at 8 and 18-20 months. Infant MS acquisition and caregiver MS levels were assessed from saliva and plaque samples collected at 8 and 18-20 months. Structural equation modeling evaluated the causal pathway with latent variables for biology and behavior. Mutans streptococci presence was similar between birth groups at 18-20 months (40% in VLBW infants and 49% in NBW infants), but was significantly higher for NBW infants at 8 months. Increased number of teeth at 8 and 18-20 months was associated with biological risk. Infants whose caregivers had a 1-point higher score on MS had a significantly (1.5) higher odds of MS presence. Caregiver behavior was not associated with MS presence. Early-intervention efforts should focus on delaying initial acquisition and improving caregiver awareness of taking care of erupting primary teeth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Suchitra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Jeffery M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soderling
authors.forename: Anchal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Curtan
authors.forename: Cuiyu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milgrom
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001724:Birth Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D017028:Caregivers; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003729:Dental Care; D003744:Dental Enamel Hypoplasia / Q000382:microbiology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D017533:Marital Status; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D012923:Social Class; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000382:microbiology*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000379:methods; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose
keywords: birthweight; children; epidemiology; longitudinal; mutans streptococci