Adverse birth outcomes and the risk of dental caries at age 3 years.

Background: Since birth outcome is associated with maternal and newborn health, it can be a predictor of the future health of the child. Aim: To investigate the association between adverse birth outcomes and dental caries. Design: The present registry‐based cohort study included all children born in 2000‐2003, residing in Stockholm County, Sweden and who received a dental examination at the age of 3 years (n = 74 748). National registries supplied data on socioeconomic conditions, maternal health, maternal health behavior, and birth outcomes. Forward stepwise binary logistic regression was performed to determine predictors of caries experience in the 3‐year‐olds. Results: Of the subjects, 6.0% had caries experience (decayed, extracted, and filled teeth [deft] ≥ 1), 5.6% were born preterm (<37 weeks); 2.2% were born small (SGA) and 3.7% large (LGA) for gestational age. Of the studied adverse birth outcomes, only SGA was significantly associated with caries experience at 3 years of age, and only for mothers who had refrained from smoking during pregnancy. Conclusions: SGA is associated with caries experience in 3‐year‐old children; however, this relationship occurs only in mothers who did not smoke during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]