Adverse birth outcomes and the risk of dental caries at age 3 years

BACKGROUND: Since birth outcome is associated with maternal and newborn health, it can be a predictor of the future health of the child. AIM: To investigate the association between adverse birth outcomes and dental caries. DESIGN: The present registry-based cohort study included all children born in 2000-2003, residing in Stockholm County, Sweden and who received a dental examination at the age of 3 years (n = 74 748). National registries supplied data on socioeconomic conditions, maternal health, maternal health behavior, and birth outcomes. Forward stepwise binary logistic regression was performed to determine predictors of caries experience in the 3-year-olds. RESULTS: Of the subjects, 6.0% had caries experience (decayed, extracted, and filled teeth [deft] >/= 1), 5.6% were born preterm (<37 weeks); 2.2% were born small (SGA) and 3.7% large (LGA) for gestational age. Of the studied adverse birth outcomes, only SGA was significantly associated with caries experience at 3 years of age, and only for mothers who had refrained from smoking during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: SGA is associated with caries experience in 3-year-old children; however, this relationship occurs only in mothers who did not smoke during pregnancy.