Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health
Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health
Influence of Maternal Prenatal Vitamin D Status on Infant Oral Health
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emineralized with fluoride they still serve as markers <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> c<strong>on</strong>siderable cariogenic activity<br />
and risk for the young child. The incidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ECC in this infant cohort is high compared<br />
to that <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> urban dwelling Canadian children <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> similar ages. 33 However, the social and<br />
physical envir<strong>on</strong>ment in which these children reside may be c<strong>on</strong>tributing to their<br />
heightened risk. In fact, the incidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ECC is comparable to previously reported<br />
prevalence rates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ECC in Manitoba. A 2005 study reported a prevalence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ECC <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
30.4% am<strong>on</strong>g infants < 24 m<strong>on</strong>ths <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> age. 23 The average deft score was 1.47 ± 2.80<br />
(range 0-17) with over 80% being attributable to the decayed teeth score (dt). The data<br />
reveal that a minority <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> children bore the bulk <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the caries burden in this cohort. Very<br />
few had underg<strong>on</strong>e treatment for ECC.<br />
A more rampant form <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> ECC is S-ECC. This sub-classificati<strong>on</strong> is reserved for<br />
children with more severe forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> caries, and is site, pattern, and age specific. 34,35<br />
However, any caries experience, even <strong>on</strong>e isolated decayed smooth tooth surface is<br />
enough to garner the diagnosis <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> S-ECC am<strong>on</strong>g children under 36 m<strong>on</strong>ths <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> age. This in<br />
fact means that 23% <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the infants in this study actually met the criteria for S-ECC at a<br />
mean age <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> 16.1 m<strong>on</strong>ths. This is c<strong>on</strong>cerning as children with S-ECC frequently need to<br />
undergo rehabilitative treatment in hospital under general anesthesia (GA), primarily<br />
because <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their young ages and the volume <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> dental treatment they require.<br />
Correlati<strong>on</strong> analysis revealed that there was no statistically significant relati<strong>on</strong>ship<br />
between 25(OH)D levels and calcium, phosphorus, or alkaline phosphatase. The other<br />
metabolites were anticipated to be associated with vitamin D levels as others have used<br />
some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these metabolites as pseudo markers for 25(OH)D. 19,36,37 However, no such<br />
relati<strong>on</strong>ship was substantiated. Recent research reports that biomarkers like parathyroid<br />
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