title: Association between Early Childhood Caries, Feeding Practices and an Established Dental Home.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a significant public health concern disproportionately affecting low-income children. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the establishment of a dental home and ECC prevalence in a group of Medicaid-enrolled preschool children, and to explore feeding practices associated with an increased prevalence of ECC in Medicaid-enrolled preschool children with an established dental home was evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted among Medicaid-enrolled children (n=132) between 2 and 5 years of age with an established dental home and no dental home to compare feeding practices, parental knowledge of caries risk factors and oral health status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with an established dental home had lower rates of biofilm (p<0.05), gingivitis (p<0.05) and mean decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) scores (p<0.05). Children with no dental home consumed more soda and juice (p<0.05) daily, and ate more sticky fruit snacks (p<0.05) than children with an established dental home. Establishment of a dental home had a strong protective effect on caries and DMFT index (odds ratio=0.22) in both univariate and confounding adjusted analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest establishment of a dental home, especially among high-risk, low-income populations, decreases the prevalence of ECC and reduces the practice of cariogenic feeding behaviors.
authors.forename: Erin A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Kierce
authors.forename: Linda D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rainchuso
authors.forename: Carole A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Andrews
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rothman
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D009513:New Hampshire / Q000453:epidemiology; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Medicaid; caries; caries risk assessment; diet; feeding methods; preventive dentistry; socio-economic status