title: Prevalence and Heritability of Early Childhood Caries Among Monozygotic and Dizygotic Twins.
abstract: Deciphering the relative importance of genetic and environmental factors, which play a major role in the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC), can help clinicians with planning a long-term preventive treatment. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and heritability of ECC among monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins in Chennai, India, in the year 2013. A cross-sectional study was designed to estimate the prevalence of ECC among twins. Zygosity classification for the survey framework was adapted from a highly accurate parental report questionnaire pertaining to the physical similarity between twins. The associated heritability index was estimated. The Decayed, Missing, Filled Surface (DMFS) Index was used as the diagnostic criterion for dental caries. The prevalence of ECC was estimated at 18.7%. The correlation coefficient between the twin pair showed significant correlation. The heritability index for ECC was estimated at 15% higher prevalence of ECC found among children in the age group 25-36 months. The heritability estimate indicated a relatively low genetic influence for early childhood caries among twins. There was no significant difference detected in the concordance rate for the MZ and DZ twins. Further research could be directed toward the prevalence of ECC among higher age group children to explore the role of genetic and environmental factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry,Saveetha Dental College,Saveetha University,Chennai,India.
authors.forename: Anuradha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuppan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry,Saveetha Dental College,Saveetha University,Chennai,India.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics,Dental College,SRM University,Chennai,India.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Samuel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry,Saveetha Dental College,Saveetha University,Chennai,India.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry,College of Dentistry,King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hassan S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Halawany
authors.affiliation: Dental Caries Research Chair,College of Dentistry,King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nimmi B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: Dental Caries Research Chair,College of Dentistry,King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Vimal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dental Sciences,College of Dentistry,Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University,AI-Kharj,Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sukumaran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anil
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D059285:Pregnancy, Twin; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic / Q000235:genetics; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic / Q000235:genetics
keywords: dental caries; dizygotic; early childhood caries; genetic factors; heritability; monozygotic; twins