Behavior Factors and Temperament in Children with and without Early Childhood Caries: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The aims of this study were to evaluate and to compare the behavioral risk factors (diet and oral hygiene habits) and temperament of children with and without early childhood caries assisted by public health service. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a convenience sample composed of 120 children of both gender aged two to five years and their respective mothers, divided into two groups. Two researches applied a questionnaire in order to obtain data about mother, family and child. Child temperament was classified according mother's perception, six choices of temperament were given to mothers and was asked to choose the most applicable to child: (1) calm; (2) fussy; (3) crying; (4) demanding; (5) stubborn; (6) other.Clinical examinations were carried out for the diagnosis of dental caries by the same trained and calibrated examiner for all subjects; the criteria of the World Health Organization were used for the diagnosis of dental caries. The presence of visible dental biofilm was evaluated on the vestibular surface of four upper incisors, without disclosing. The logistic regression (p<0.05) between children without caries and with early childhood caries showed that factors as the child age (OR = 1.480), the frequency of sugar intake between meals (OR = 2.343), use of fluoridated paste (OR = 2.763), lack of brushing after dinner (OR = 0.539) and unsatisfactory oral hygiene (OR = 3.449) were associated to early childhood caries. There was no difference regarding the temperament of children with and without caries. Behavioral risk factors (dietary habits and oral hygiene) were associated with the presence of early childhood caries.