The Early Childhood Caries Risk Factors of Immigrant Children: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study
2Department of Cariology Endodontology Pedodontology, ACTA, University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
3Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Istanbul University, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul, Turkey
4Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Marmara University, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul, Turkey
5Special dentistry, Stichting Bijzondere Tandheelkunde, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Background: The aim of this study is to understand the factors disrupting the dental status of Turkish children in their homeland and Turkish immigrant children in The Netherlands by evaluating the impact of environmental differences due to the country of residence and dental care habits related to early childhood caries.
Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey and in The Netherlands. The study population comprised of 120 children whose age groups 2-5 years old. The mothers of the children were administered to the questionnaires and the intra oral examinations were performed by calibrated dentists. According to the caries experience, the children were classified in dmfs1 and dmfs3 groups.
Results: Turkish immigrant children who live in The Netherlands showed a higher dmfs1 value compared to the Turkish children from the same age group (p<0.05). Turkish immigrant children who had breast-feeding for 6-12 months showed higher dmfs1 values (p<0.05). However, the dmfs3 values between the Turkish children and Turkish immigrant children were not significant (p>0.05).
Conclusions: Turkish immigrant children suffered from higher caries risk compared to Turkish children who live in their homeland. The findings of this study can be beneficial for establishing future preventive strategies of early childhood dental caries in immigrant children.
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