OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between maternal oral health and Early Childhood Caries (ECC) and discover the role of maternal and child behaviours in explaining this association.

BASIC RESEARCH DESIGN

A cross-sectional analytic study.

CLINICAL SETTING

Public Healthcare Services in Pasto, Colombia.

PARTICIPANTS

384 mothers and their 2-5-year-old children.

METHODS

Mothers completed a questionnaire to provide information on sociodemographic and behavioural factors and were examined for caries experience (DMFS index) and periodontal status (Community Periodontal Index, CPI). Children were examined for dental caries (dmfs index). The association between maternal dental indicators and child dmfs was assessed in negative binomial regression adjusting for confounders.

RESULTS

About 96% and 33% of mothers had caries experience and periodontal disease, respectively. The mean dmfs was 7.4 (SD: 9.5, range: 0-71). Maternal DMFS, but not CPI, was positively associated with children's dmfs (Rate Ratio: 2.51, 95%CI: 1.59-3.97) after adjustments for sociodemographic and behavioural factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal caries experience, but not periodontal status, was positively associated with ECC in their children. Maternal and child behaviours explained little of this association.