The objective of this paper is to describe primary tooth surface level caries progression, over 2 years, based on the severity of the caries lesions. Data were collected from 790 low-income African-American preschool children in Detroit, Mich., USA. The caregivers of the children (aged 0-5 years) completed interviews and the dyad of child-caregiver completed dental examinations in 2002-2004 (baseline) and in 2004-2005 (follow-up). Caries were measured using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). The caries status of tooth surfaces was classified into initial (ICDAS 1-2), moderate (ICDAS 3-4) and extensive (ICDAS 5-6) stages. Counts of tooth surfaces with progression, by baseline caries severity level, were used to compute rate ratios (RRs) relative to sound stages. RRs were also computed for type of tooth surfaces and frequency of intake of soda consumption at baseline. After adjusting for confounders, caries progression was more likely to occur in tooth surfaces with any baseline caries relative to sound surfaces. For surfaces with initial caries, the rate of progression to moderate caries was 9.6 times higher than that of sound surfaces. Surfaces with initial and moderate caries progressed to extensive caries 6.1 and 20.6 times, respectively, relative to sound surfaces. Baseline soda consumption was not associated with the RR of caries progression. In conclusion, the staging of caries identifies different progression risks and significant emphasis should be placed on secondary prevention of initial lesions as well as on primary prevention.

Keywords:
African Americans, Dental caries, Dental caries susceptibility, Preschool children
1.
AAPD: Policy on Early Childhood Caries (ECC): Classifications, Consequences, and Preventive Strategies. AAPD Reference Manual V 35/No 6 13/14, 2011. http://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_Guidelines/P_ECCClassifications.pdf.
2.
Ayhan H, Suskan E, Yildirim S: The effect of nursing or rampant caries on height, body weight, and head circumference. J Clin Pediatr Dent 1996;20:209-212.
3.
Backer Dirks O, Houwink B, Kwant GW: Some special features of the caries preventive effect of water fluoridation. Arch Oral Biol 1961;4:187-192.
4.
Batchelor PA, Sheiham A: Grouping of tooth surfaces by susceptibility to caries: a study in 5-16 year-old children. BMC Oral Health 2004;4:2.
5.
Broffitt B, Levy SM, Warren J, Cavanaugh JE: Factors associated with surface-level caries incidence in children aged 9 to 13: the Iowa Fluoride Study. J Public Health Dent 2013;4:3014-3010.
6.
Dye BA, Li X, Beltran-Aguilar ED: Selected oral health indicators in the United States, 2005-2008. NCHS Data Brief 2012;96:1-8.
7.
Filstrup SL, Briskie D, daFonseca M, Lawrence L, Wandera A, Inglehart MR: The effects on early childhood caries (ECC) and restorative treatment on children's oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL). Pediatr Dent 2003;25:431-440.
8.
Gift HC, Reisine ST, Larach DC: The social impact of dental problems and visits. Am J Public Health 1992;82:1663-1668.
9.
Griffin SO, Gooch BF, Beltran E, Sutherland JN, Barsley R: Dental services, costs, and factors associated with hospitalization for Medicaid-eligible children, Louisiana 1996-97. J Public Health Dent 2000;60:21-27.
10.
Ismail AI, Lim S, Sohn W, Willem JM: Determinants of early childhood caries in low-income African-American young children. Pediatr Dent 2008a;30:289-296.
11.
Ismail AI, Sohn W, Betz J, Tellez M, Willem JM, Lepkowski J: Risk indicators for dental caries using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2008b;36:55-68.
12.
Ismail AI, Sohn W, Lim S, Willem JM: Predictors of dental caries progression in primary teeth. J Den Res 2009;88:270-275.
13.
Kanellis MJ, Damiano PC, Monamy ET: Medicaid costs associated with the hospitalization of young children for restorative dental treatment under general anesthesia. J Public Health Dent 2000;60:28-32.
14.
Ladrillo TE, Hobdell MH, Caviness C: Increasing prevalence of emergency department visits for pediatric dental care 1997-2001. J Am Dent Assoc 2006;137:379-385.
15.
McDonald SP, Sheiham A: The distribution of caries on different tooth surfaces at varying levels of caries - a compilation of data from 18 previous studies. Community Dent Health 1992;9:39-48.
16.
Milsom KM, Blinkhorn AS, Tickle M: The incidence of dental caries in the primary molar teeth of young children receiving National Health Service funded dental care in practice in the North West of England. Br Dent J 2008;20:1-5.
17.
Nathan VR: Drinking water in Michigan: source, quality, and contaminants. J Water Health 2006;4(suppl 1):67-73.
18.
O'Sullivan DM, Tinanoff N: The association of early childhood caries patterns with caries incidence in pre-school children. J Public Health Dent 1996;56:81-83.
19.
Raghunathan TE, Lepkowski, JM, VanHoewyk J, Solenberger P: A Multivariate technique for multiply imputing missing values using a sequence of regression models. Surv Methodol 2001;29:85-95.
20.
Shaffer JR, Wang X, DeSensi RS, et al: Genetic susceptibility to dental caries on pit and fissure and smooth surfaces. Caries Res 2012;46:38-46.
21.
Shenkin JD: An increase in caries rate or an increase in access to care: data show mixed results. J Public Health Dent 2011;71:1-5.
22.
Warren JJ, Levy SM, Broffitt B, Kanellis MJ: Longitudinal study of non-cavitated carious lesion progression in the primary dentition. J Public Health Dent 2006;66:83-87.
23.
Ferreira Zandona A, Santiago E, Eckert GJ, Katz BP, Pereira de Oliveira S, Capin OR, Mau M, Zero DT: The natural history of dental caries lesions: a 4-year observational study. J Dent Res 2012;91:841-846.
© 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel
2015
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.