The Relation Between Pregnancy,Birth Outcome, Feeding , Oral Hygiene Habits and Early Childhood Caries Development.

Assessment of Pregnancy History, Birth Outcome, Feeding and Oral Practices With Development of Early Childhood Caries in Offspring of Women Who Have Not Participated in Previous Birth Preparation Class

• 200 children between ages 36 to 48 months will be invited for a regular dental examination

• Parameters to be investigated

  1. Pregnancy history
  2. Birth outcome
  3. Child's general health
  4. Feeding habits
  5. Oral hygiene habits
  6. Dmft caries index
  7. Congenital enamel defects

Severe Early Childhood Caries is a condition whereby very young children suffer multiple caries. The value of a pre- perinatal preventive approach is currently being examined in the dental literature. At Hadassah, a Pilot Study is currently underway to test the feasibility of a comprehensive Baby Clinic designed to prevent Severe Early Childhood Caries. The pilot study in cooperation with the Woman's Health Center and with the midwives and the breastfeeding counselors of the maternity unit. Lectures are given by pediatric dentists to parents of firstborn children attending Hadassah's Birth Preparation Class, emphasis is given to the importance of breastfeeding and other feeding habits in the emotional, physical, nutritional and immunological development of the future baby. In addition the effect of these feeding habits on the dental/oral aspects, relevant for the developing dentition.

After birth the parents are invited to come with their babies around 12 months for the first dental examination and follow up according to individual risk for caries development. The current proposed study will be a control group from offspring of women who have participated previous Sessions Hadassah's Birth Preparation Class ("Historical Controls" before the Baby Clinic project)

Inclusion Criteria:

• children born in previous Sessions Hadassah's Birth Preparation Class " before the Baby Clinic project)

Exclusion Criteria:

• children not born in previous Sessions Hadassah's Birth Preparation Class " before the Baby Clinic project)