title: Natural history of dental caries in very young Australian children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whilst the global burden of caries is increasing, the trajectory of decay in young children and the point at which prevention should occur has not been well established.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the 'natural history' of dental caries in early childhood.
  
  
  METHODS
  A birth cohort study was established with 467 mother/child dyads followed at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 36 months of age. Parent-completed surveys captured demographic, social, and behavioural data, and oral examinations provided clinical and data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight per cent of children (95% confidence interval (CI): 5-12%) at 18 months and 23% (95% CI: 18-28%) at 36 months experienced decay. Interesting lesion behaviour was found between 18 and 36 months, with rapid development of new lesions on sound teeth (70% of teeth, 95% CI: 63-76%) and regression of many lesions from non-cavitated lesions to sound (23% of teeth, 95% CI: 17-30%). Significant associations were found between soft drink consumption and lesion progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest optimal time periods for screening and prevention of a disease which significantly impacts multiple health and well-being outcomes across the life course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Vic., Australia.|Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gussy
authors.affiliation: Jack Brockhoff Child Health & Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Rosie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ashbolt
authors.affiliation: Jack Brockhoff Child Health & Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.affiliation: Jack Brockhoff Child Health & Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Virgo-Milton
authors.affiliation: Dental Health Services Victoria, Carlton, Vic., Australia.|Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic., Australia.|Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Hanny
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Calache
authors.affiliation: Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dashper
authors.affiliation: Jack Brockhoff Child Health & Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic., Australia.|Early Life Epigenetics Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Childrens Hospital, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.affiliation: Melbourne Dental School, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic., Australia.|Centre for Applied Oral Health Research, Dental Health Services Victoria, Carlton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7812-2989
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Silva
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Alysha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Livera
authors.affiliation: Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: Jack Brockhoff Child Health & Wellbeing Program, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Waters
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male