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.

Ökad etnisk mångfald i de nordiska länderna – tandhälsoeffekter

“…Genetikens påverkan på kariesutvecklingen är fortfarande inte utredd, och huruvida genetiska skillnader mellan etniska grupper kan förklara några av skillnaderna i kariesutveckling är inte klarlagt. Det finns dock tvillingstudier som undersökt ärftlighet och karies, både i det perma-tidende tidende Nordisk tema • Ökad etnisk mångfald i de nordiska länderna -tandhälsoeffekter nenta och det primära bettet (13)(14)(15)(16). Det verkar finnas skillnader i ärftligheten mellan det permanenta och primära bettet (13).…”

“…Det finns också vissa inkonsekvenser i de publicerade resultaten avseende karies. Vissa studier visar en tydlig och signifikant effekt av ärftlighet på kariesutvecklingen och tillskriver ärftlighet omkring 50 procent av kariesutvecklingen (13,16), medan andra studier visar att ärftlighet har mycket liten inverkan på utvecklingen av karies (14,15). Dessa motstridiga resultat kan naturligtvis bero på bias och skillnader i studiedesign.…”

Twinning rates in Chennai, India – A cross-sectional study

“…[ 1 ] The permutation–combination play of nature also made us analyse various genetic traits, heritability of characteristics and also to reason out the genetic and or environmental causes and implications on various disease conditions in the body. [ 2 3 ] A community study of the demographics of the same helps in following the genetic trends in the population and to probably predict the future trends of various related disease conditions. [ 4 5 ]…”