Kindergarten Smiles: Decoding the Relationship between Early Childhood Caries, Feeding Habits, and the Protective Potential of Glass Ionomer Cement"

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of early childhood caries and feeding practice in kindergarten students. The term dental caries is used to describe the result, signs and symptoms of a localized chemical dissolution of the tooth surface caused by metabolic events taking place in the biofilms that cover the affected area. Children in the age range of 12-36 months have a special caries pattern that differs from that in older children.  This cross sectional study was conducted among patients visiting a university dental hospital in Chennai. Descriptive statistics and relation between variables was determined using the chi square test, where p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Among 111 children about 27.3% of children belonged to the age group of 3 years, 40.9% of children belonged to the age group of 4 years, 31.8% of children belonged to the age group of 5 years .caries pattern and severe caries in the preschool childrens has long been considered a distinct clinical entity described previously as nursing caries or bottle caries and attributed to prolonged frequent bottle feeding with sweetened liquids. The findings indicate that ECC and feeding habits are significantly associated. Children from deprived families seemed to be most vulnerable with respect to ECC. The content of the bottle feed and feeding practice at night are the strongest factors among all feeding habits associated with ECC.