Association of matenal oral health with the oral health of the child an observational clinical study

Abstract

Maternal indicators such as oral hygiene practices, dental caries and periodontitis are risk factors for childhood oral diseases and might be predictive of future dental diseases and periodontits. Moreover, the human lifestyle would facilitate more of horizontal transmission of microora from mother to child. Aim: To evaluate the association of dental caries and periodontal disease in the child of periodontally diseased and periodontally healthy mothers. Settings & Design: Clinical parameters like plaque index, gingival index, OHIS, bleeding sites on probing, probing pocket dept, dmft (in mothers), defs (in children) in mothers and their child were evaluated. Methods & Materials: 4 groups were included: (I) 25 female patients with untreated generalized moderate to severe chronic periodontitis (25 -50 years) (II) their child (5-15 years) (III) 25 periodontally healthy mothers (25-50 years) and (IV) their child (5-15 years).The clinical examination included registration of plaque index, gingival index, OHIS, bleeding sites on probing, probing pocket dept, dmft (in mothers), defs (in children) in mothers and their child. Statistical Analysis used: The results were subjected to statistical analysis and a Spearmann's correlation test was done so as to evaluate association of mother's oral health to that of their child. Results & Conclusions: There is an association between mother's oral health with that of the child. Mothers with periodontal disease essentially had their children gingivally diseased. Mothers with good oral hygiene had an improved oral health of their child. As the education level of the mother increased, the diseased status in the child decreased.