A comparative evaluation of the association of body mass index and salivary flow in ECC and caries free elementary school children in Ferozepur city Bagri Gazal, Post-Graduate Student, Khinda Vineet I.S., Professor & Head, Bhangoo Shiminder, Reader, Monga Nitika, Reader, Singh Brar Gurlal, Senior Lecturer, Vats Sunila, Senior Lecturer Address for Correspondence: Dr. Gazal Bagri, Post-graduate Student, Dept. of Pedodontics & Preventive Dentistry, Genesis Institute of Dental Sciences and Research, Ferozepur. E-mail: gazal.bagri@yahoo.com
Online published on 28 May, 2014. Abstract The prevalence of early childhood caries (sECC) is high in developing nations like India. It has local as well as systemic manifestations. This study evaluated the influence of ECC on growth parameters and salivary flow rate of children aged 3 to 6 years residing in urban population of Ferozepur. Materials and Methods: 400 children (200 with ECC and 50 with no dental caries; mean age 4.9) were studied. Decayed, extracted and filled teeth (def) index, body mass index (BMI) and the salivary flow rate were recorded. Statistical Analysis: Chi-square test and paired t tests were performed for comparing the two groups. Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficient were also used to find any relationship among the factors within a group. Results: Measurements showed that 33.5% of children with ECC had weight below 5th percentile (underweight; mean 14.52 ± 1.36 Kg) which was less than the controls (mean 14.88 ± 1.93 kg). The p value was found to be 0.002, which was highly significant. Lower values of salivary flow rate were observed in children having caries as compared to controls. Conclusions: ECC negatively influenced the weight and salivary flow rate of children. Top Keywords Early childhood caries, BMI, salivary flow rate, dft. Top |