Influence of a programme for prevention of early childhood caries on early orthodontic treatment needs

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this prospective birth cohort study was to evaluate the effect of the programme for prevention (PP) of early childhood caries and the resulting need for orthodontic treatment in 8-year-old German children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Children who had been enrolled in a caries-risk-related recall system with continuous dental care starting at the time of birth (prevention group, PG) were compared with children of the same birth cohort whose parents decided not to participate in the programme (control group, CG). All children (n = 289) participating in the last PP evaluation at the age of 5 years were invited again and examined by blinded clinicians. Dental caries was scored using the WHO diagnostic criteria expanded to d1-level without radiography. Impressions were taken of children with premature tooth loss to analyse space conditions. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-seven children (mean age 8.4 ± 0.6 years; 46.7% female) were examined. Children in the PG (n = 127) showed significantly lower caries prevalence and experience (3.1%, 0.4 ± 1.0 d(3–4)mft) than children in the CG (37.3%, 3.9 ± 3.5 d(3–4)mft). Orthodontic analysis found a higher prevalence of premature tooth extraction, followed by a greater extent of space loss in the CG (41.0%; 3.3 ± 4.4 mm) vs. PG (7.9%; 0.4 ± 1.9 mm) and an increase in early orthodontic treatment need (KIG P3, IOTN 5). CONCLUSIONS: The PP was an effective approach for preventing caries-related premature tooth loss in children and conserving relevant arch length. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Children who received continuous dental care starting at the time of birth showed better oral health with less premature loss of deciduous teeth and lower need for orthodontic treatment at the age of 8 years. TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00003438, https://drks-neu.uniklinik-freiburg.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00003438