Exploring the genomic basis of early childhood caries: a pilot study

Abstract

ObjectiveA genetic component in early childhood caries (ECC) is theorized, but no genome‐wide investigations of ECC have been conducted. This pilot study is part of a long‐term research program aimed to: (1) determine the proportion of ECC variance attributable to the human genome and (2) identify ECC‐associated genetic loci.MethodsThe study's community‐based sample comprised 212 children (mean age=39 months; range = 30–52 months; males = 55%; Hispanic/Latino = 35%, African‐American = 32%; American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry definition of ECC prevalence = 38%). Approximately 2.4 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using DNA purified from saliva. A P < 5 × 10−8 criterion was used for genome‐wide significance. SNPs with P < 5 × 10−5 were followed‐up in three independent cohorts of 921 preschool‐age children with similar ECC prevalence.Results SNPs with minor allele frequency ≥5% explained 52% (standard error = 54%) of ECC variance (one‐sided P = 0.03). Unsurprisingly, given the pilot's small sample size, no genome‐wide significant associations were found. An intergenic locus on 4q32 (rs4690994) displayed the strongest association with ECC [P = 2.3 × 10−6; odds ratio (OR) = 3.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.1–5.9]. Thirteen loci with suggestive associations were followed‐up – none showed evidence of association in the replication samples.ConclusionThis study's findings support a heritable component of ECC and demonstrate the feasibility of conducting genomics studies among preschool‐age children.

The building blocks of precision oral health in early childhood: the ZOE 2.0 study

“…Sampling across all Head Start programs in North Carolina is based on a probability proportional to size scheme. A pilot GWAS of ECC, demonstrating approximately 40 percent heritability in the measured trait, was recently reported by Ballantine and colleagues .…”

“…Important advances have been recently made in the non‐restorative management of dental caries; however, remarkably little has been done in the domain of ECC prevention. ECC is best understood as a supragingival biofilm‐mediated dysbiotic disease, whereas social, environmental, and behavioral determinants, as well as innate susceptibility are known influences on its incidence . There is promise and expectation that meaningful improvements in early childhood oral health, both in context of public health and clinical practice, can be made via the advent of precision medicine in the oral health domain .…”

“…Important advances have been recently made in the non-restorative management of dental caries; however, remarkably little has been done in the domain of ECC prevention. ECC is best understood as a supragingival biofilm-mediated dysbiotic disease, whereas social, environmental, and behavioral determinants, as well as innate susceptibility are known influences on its incidence (4,5).…”

Early Childhood Caries Update

“…It is important to understand the natural history of ECC in order to implement effective preventive strategies. ECC disease has rampant, acute, and progressive characteristics and it is thought to be largely modulated by behavioral and environmental risk factors, such as diet and fluoride exposure [52,53]. Early non-operative interventions done by dental professionals, including plaque removal, topical fluoride, and sealant applications, are accepted as the important steps to prevent ECC [50].…”

Gene therapy and its applicability in Dentistry

“…Then, researchers discovered enzymes that separated the genes in a DNA molecule, uncovering the internal hereditary mechanism, which is extremely important in the world of science. Since then, medicine has benefited greatly from the discoveries in the area of genetics [1,2].…”