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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Catherine Hayes¹, Jalaima Graham, MPH², Amy Cha, BA², Anupama Tate, DMD², Marilyn Haynes, BA³, Janis E. Johnson, BA⁴, Paul S. Casamassimo, DDS, MS⁵, and Raul Garcia, DMD, MMS⁶. (1) Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, Harvard University, 188 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, 617-432-3507, catherine_hayes@hsdm.harvard.edu, (2) Dentistry, Children's National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010, (3) Pediatric Dentistry, Children's Hospital, 700 Childrens Drive, OCC Bldg., Lower Level AB0024, Columbus, OH 43205, (4) Health Policy and Health Services Research, School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, 715 Albany St., 560, 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02118, (5) Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Columbus Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Dr., Columbus, OH 43205, (6) Health Policy and Health Services Research, Boston University School of Dental Medicine, 560 Harrison St., Rm 322, Boston, MA 02118

Objective: The objective of this longitudinal study is to examine the impact of severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) on growth in young children. Methods: Study subjects are children ages 2 – 6 years presenting for care at the pediatric dental clinics at the Children's National Medical Center, Washington, D.C., (N=167) and Columbus Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, (N=233). At baseline, 6 months and 12 months of follow up the children are weighed and height recorded by trained staff using standardized criteria. Information is collected on nutritional intake using a food frequency questionnaire and a detailed 24 recall method. The data presented here represent findings from the initial 18 months of data collection of a 4 year study comparing baseline differences in height, weight and caloric intake between a group of children with S-ECC and a group of healthy caries free children. Results: The mean age of all study participants was 3yrs 8mos (+1yr 4mos). The majority of participants were female (56%). The racial distribution differed significantly by site (p<.001) with the majority of subjects at the Washington site categorized as African American (87%) with Caucasian as the predominant racial group (51%) at the Ohio site followed by 29% African American, 17% biracial and the remainder categorized as other. There were no significant differences in height, weight or caloric intake between S-ECC children and their caries-free counterparts. Conclusion: These baseline findings indicate that there are no significant differences in baseline height or weight between the 2 study groups. Supported by NIDCR U54DE014264.

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate the comparison of height and weight differences/similarities between children with ECC and caries free children.
• Describe the racial distribution of study participants.
• Articulate the baseline characteristics of the study populations.

Keywords: Early Childhood Caries, Oral Health

Related Web page: www.creedd.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered