Caries Incidence in a Healthy Young Adult Population in Relation to Diet

B.T. Rosier, C. van Loveren, E. Zaura, B.G. Loos, B.J.F. Keijser, W. Crielaard, M.D. Lagerweij

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

In the past, epidemiological studies focused on cavitated stages of caries. The arrival of the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) in 2004 allowed for clinical measurements of the initial stages of enamel caries. However, since the introduction, most studies applying the ICDAS still have studied the diseased population. The objective of this cross-sectional observational study was to describe early enamel caries in a large healthy young adult population and determine the relationship with diet and oral hygiene measures. The study population consisted of 268 healthy participants without frank cavitation. The examinations were done visually and radiographically using ICDAS on all tooth surfaces. In total, 8.6% of the surfaces (occlusal > approximal > smooth) had caries, of which 92.0% were confined to enamel (28.5% ICDAS score 1, 54.0% score 2, 8.6% score 3). Thirteen percent of the occlusal and 63% of the approximal caries were found with radiography. Thus, radiography is quintessential for the diagnosis of approximal enamel lesions. We found a positive correlation between enamel caries (ICDAS 1 to 3) and the consumption of mono- and disaccharides and carbohydrates (r = 0.226 and r = 0.188, respectively, both P < 0.01), as well as a negative correlation with alcohol consumption (r = −0.202, P < 0.01). There was also a positive correlation between enamel caries and the energy intake from mono- and disaccharides (sugar kJ, r = 0.206, P < 0.01), which was independent of body mass index. Only 11 participants consumed less than 10% of total energy as sugar kJ, which is the recommended percentage of kJ from free sugar by the World Health Organization. No clear correlation was found with oral hygiene. In conclusion, in this healthy young adult population, caries was found in 97.8% of the subjects, mostly initial enamel caries (ICDAS 1 to 2) in the occlusal surface of molars, and was related with dietary factors.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)142-150
JournalJDR Clinical & Translational Research
Volume2
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2017

Bibliographical note

Correction published in: JDR Clinical Translational Research, volume: 2 issue: 4, page(s): 410.

Funding

The project is funded by Top Institute Food and Nutrition, a public-private partnership on precompetitive research in food and nutrition. The public partners were responsible for the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, and preparation of the manuscript. The private partners have contributed to the project through regular discussion. We are thankful to Saskia Meijboom (Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University) for food frequency questionnaire data collection and analysis. This study was registered at the Dutch Trial Register (NTR3649). The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

FundersFunder number
Dutch Trial RegisterNTR3649
Top Institute Food and Nutrition

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