Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health

The questionnaire was administered during this same prenatal clinic visit by either
the principal investigator or an existing staff at the two primary care community clinic
sites. The principal investigator performed all <strong>of</strong> the interviews at Women’s Hospital,
HSC. The questionnaire was designed to take 30 to 35 minutes to complete.
When the child neared 12 months <strong>of</strong> age participants were contacted to schedule
an assessment <strong>of</strong> their infant’s primary dentition. Dental clinics at Mount Carmel Clinic
and Health Action Centre served as sites for the infant dental examination for participants
who were originally recruited from those clinic sites. Participants enrolled into this
prospective study at Women’s Hospital, HSC brought their children to the Manitoba
Institute <strong>of</strong> Child Health adjacent to HSC for the dental evaluation. When possible,
digital images <strong>of</strong> the primary maxillary incisors were taken during the dental examination
depending on consent from the mother and the cooperation level <strong>of</strong> the child. The intent
was that this might prove useful in identifying the differential patterns <strong>of</strong> enamel
hypoplasia. The follow-up questionnaire was completed at the start <strong>of</strong> this scheduled
visit. The questionnaire preceded the dental examination in case the child became restless
during and following the dental assessment. All exams were performed in a knee-to-knee
position.
Cohort retention posed a significant challenge. Follow-up to maintain this cohort
involved several contacts by mail, phone, or other means between the researcher,
participants, and the clinics from the enrollment stage until the time <strong>of</strong> the infant’s dental
examination. The ADT hospital patient database at HSC and Health Action Centre and
the clinic database at Mount Carmel Clinic were used to help locate participants who had
moved or changed their phone numbers during the study period.
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