Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
2
Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi hospital, School of medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
3
Children Growth Disorder Research Center, Comprehensive Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
4
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Abstract
Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a multifactorial form of dental caries that commonly affects preschool children. Many causative factors exist that play a role in the development of dental decay, including bacteria, diet, oral hygiene, medical conditions, and lack of important vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D. The aim of this study was to assess the association between ECC and vitamin D deficiency.
Methods: In this case-control study, 64 children under 6 years of age were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of ECC. After obtaining the consent forms, dental caries were assessed, and blood samples were taken to measure 25(OH) vitamin D. Chi-square, Fisher's Exact tests, t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient were used for data analysis with SPSS 17. Odds Ratio was also used to determine the risk of decay in Vitamin D deficiency cases.
Results: Mean concentration of 25(OH) vitamin D for the case and control groups was 20.42±11.12 and 40.51±24.32 ng/mL, respectively. There was a significant difference in 25(OH) vitamin D between the two groups (p-value = 0.000), and children with vitamin D deficiency (<35 ng/mL) were 2.5 times more likely to have early childhood caries. There was also a significant and inverse correlation between DMFT and vitamin D (p-value = 0.001).
Conclusion: The study found that children with vitamin D deficiency could be at higher risk for ECC. According to these results, further studies are required to better understand the disease and take precautionary measures, such as taking vitamin D supplements.
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