A Survey on Mothers' Awareness of Nursing Bottle Caries according to Infants' Age

유아의 연령에 따른 어머니들의 우유병우식증에 대한 인식도 조사

  • Min, Hee-Hong (Dept. of Dental Hygiene, Daejeon Health Sciences College) ;
  • Lee, Mi-Ra (Dept. of Dental Hygiene, Jeonbuk Science College) ;
  • Ji, Min-Gyeong (Dept. of Dental Hygiene, Jeonbuk Science College)
  • Published : 2008.09.30

Abstract

Dental caries in infants is a representative oral disease causing the malocclusion of permanent dentition and developmental variations in the permanent teeth, so it is very important to manage caries in infants. Thus, in order to survey mothers who visited pediatric dentistry concerning their awareness of nursing bottle caries and to obtain data necessary for developing education materials to prevent nursing bottle caries, the present study conducted a survey using a self reporting questionnaire with 205 mothers who visited the Pediatric Dentistry of a dental hospital in Cheonan with a child aged below 5 during the period from June 7 to August 2 in 2008, and obtained results as follows. 1. The awareness of dental caries was highest in the group aged over 37 months 96.8%, and next in order of age 13~24 months 96.5%, 25~36 months 94.5%, and younger than 13 months 83.3%. 2. The awareness of nursing bottle caries was highest in infants aged over 37 months 58.7%, and next, in 13~24 months 57.9% and in 25~36 months 54.8%, and lowest in infants younger than 13 months 33.3%, suggesting the necessity of education on nursing bottle caries(p=0.423). 3. As to the time of the first visit to dental clinic, 50.0% of infants younger than 13 months, 52.6% of those aged 13~24 months, and 49.3% of those aged 25~36 months replied the completion of the eruption of primary teeth, and 36.5% of those aged over 37 months replied the occurrence of dental caries. Thus, the motives for visiting dental clinic were different among the age groups, and the differences were statistically significant(p=0.005). 4. The age of toothbrushing to be started by mother's opinion was 6 months in 0.5%, 12 months in 68.8%, 18 months in 22.9%, 24 months in 5.9%, and 25 months in 1.0%, and no statistically significant difference was observed according to age. 5. The number of toothbrushing was usually once a day after meal. and increased by in age was shown statistically significantly difference(p=0.035). 6. The most frequent method of preventing nursing bottle caries was regular toothbrushing in all the age groups, and next restriction of sugar intake, regular dental consultation, and fluoridation in order The most effective prevention of dental caries was regular visit to dental clinic and next, toothbrushing after meal.

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