ABSTRACT Background Breastfeeding is recommended to 2 years or beyond, but its association with early childhood caries (ECC) after infancy remains uncertain, partly because of inconsistent adjustment for confounders and reverse causation. Aim To examine whether breastfeeding at 18 months was associated with dental caries at age 3 years. Design Japanese check‐up cohort (2014–2019). Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs), adjusting for sex, regular sweetened juice consumption, screen time > 1 h/day, parental tooth‐brushing assistance, single‐parent household and parental employment; sensitivity analyses adjusted for or excluded those with 18‐month caries. Results Of 69 165 children, 12 788 (18.5%) were breastfeeding at 18 months. Any caries (35.9% vs. 23.7%) and severe caries (19.2% vs. 10.5%) were more common in breastfeeding children. After behavioural and socioeconomic adjustment, breastfeeding remained associated with any caries (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.82–1.98) and severe caries (OR 2.14, 95% CI 2.03–2.26); associations persisted after adjustment for caries at 18 months (any caries OR 1.74; severe caries OR 1.87). Conclusion Breastfeeding at 18 months was independently associated with higher odds of ECC at 3 years; reverse causation alone did not account for this. Findings support integrating targeted oral‐health counselling, including avoidance of feed‐to‐sleep and post‐feed oral cleaning, into breastfeeding support after infancy.
ABSTRACT Background The subclinical effects of impacted mesiodens without clinical or radiographic complications on adjacent permanent incisors remain unclear. Aim This study aimed to assess whether impacted mesiodens without clinical or radiographic complications are associated with quantitative radiographic changes in adjacent maxillary central incisors (MCIs). Design This cross‐sectional study analyzed cone‐beam computed tomography images of 53 patients aged 10–15 years with a unilateral impacted mesiodens using an intraindividual contralateral control design. Mesiodens morphology, position, length, and minimum distance to the adjacent tooth were recorded. Root canal volume and dentin gray values were quantified in the adjacent and contralateral MCIs; associations were tested with nonparametric correlation and multivariable regression analyses ( p < 0.05). Results Adjacent MCIs showed lower canal volumes and higher dentin gray values than contralateral controls ( p < 0.001). Shorter mesiodens–tooth distance was associated with greater canal volume reduction ( p = 0.006) and higher dentin gray values ( p = 0.002). Mesiodens length was significantly associated with root canal volume reduction ( p = 0.013) but not with dentin gray values ( p > 0.05), whereas no significant associations were observed for morphological or positional classifications ( p > 0.05). Conclusions Impacted mesiodens without clinical or radiographic complications may be associated with subclinical radiographic alterations in adjacent MCIs, warranting consideration beyond routine clinical and radiographic assessment.
Background Hypomineralisation of second primary molars (HSPM) is an enamel defect with a multifactorial and potentially genetic aetiology. While the association between enamel defects and dental anomalies is a relatively recent area of investigation, it has not yet been explored specifically in cases of HSPM. Aim To assess the association between HSPM and tooth agenesis (TA). Design A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using pre-treatment records of patients aged 7-12 years. A total of 285 patient records were evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed using the Fisher's exact test and logistic regressions. Results A higher prevalence of TA was observed among children with HSPM-affected teeth (95% CI: 1.07-3.17, phi-coefficient: 0.238, PR: 1.84). Individuals with severe HSPM had significantly greater odds of TA (OR = 12.47; p < 0.001; 95% CI: 3.47-24.70). Patients with HSPM had a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing TA (OR = 6.97), particularly second premolar agenesis (OR = 11.80; p < 0.001; 95% CI: 2.83-49.10). Conclusion An association was found between HSPM and TA, particularly involving mandibular second premolars. Moreover, increased HSPM severity was linked to a higher risk of developing TA.
