title: Evaluation of Possible Associated Factors for Early Childhood Caries and Severe Early Childhood Caries: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study evaluated associated factors for developing early childhood caries (ECC) and Severe-ECC (S-ECC) in a group of children aged 24-71 months. Potential positive effects of early dental visit on formation of ECC is investigated as well.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted at three governmental and university pediatric dentistry clinics in 408 preschool children who were randomly selected from a total of 4116 children. The questionnaires administered to the mothers by interview and intraoral examination performed by calibrated pediatric dentists. The children were evaluated in three groups according to their caries experience as who had caries free, ECC and S-ECC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following factors were significantly associated with caries formation: 1. Prolonged (i.e., >18 months) breastfeeding in preterm babies (OR=2.4) 2. Prolonged breastfeeding in children who started tooth brushing after 1.5 years of age (OR=3.7), 3. Sugar (p<0.001) and fruit-juice consumption (p<0.0001), and 4. Lack of periodic dental examination (p<0.05). Parental smoking habit does not significantly affect ECC development. Nocturnal bottle feeding and nocturnal feeding also affected S-ECC formation significantly (p=0.043 and p=0.005, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a significant difference between the children with caries and caries-free associated with the brushing initiation age started before or after 18 months. If a child is under the risk of multiple caries factors, it is very difficult to evaluate which habits affect the caries formation or increase the severity of the caries lesions.
authors.forename: Bugra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Özen
authors.forename: A J P
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Van Strijp
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Özer
authors.forename: Hulya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Olmus
authors.forename: Aysegul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Genc
authors.forename: Sevi Burcak
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cehreli
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001628:Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology*; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D062410:Snacks; D013997:Time Factors; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D005293:Ferritins; D005459:Fluorides