Influence of Paternal Socioeconomic Variables on Dental Caries in Lucknow City (India): A Case- Control Study

Introduction: Dental caries, an important public health problem of children and adolescent has multi factorial causation. Different studies have brought out varying prevalence and attributed its increase to dietary factors, poor oral hygiene, lack of knowledge and paternal sociodemographic factors. The present Case – Control study was conducted to investigate the association between paternal variables and dental caries among 1 -18 year old children and adolescent of Lucknow city, India.
Methods: Study was carried out in the Outpatient Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Saraswati Dental College and Hospital, Lucknow (U.P) India. Study included 400 cases with dental caries and equal number of controls without dental caries. Cases were matched with controls on three variables (age, sex and religion). Clinical examination (DMFT/deft) was done in accordance with W.H.O. criteria for epidemiological studies. Participants with fluorosis, discernible enamel hypoplasia were excluded. Patients and their fathers were interviewed using a self-prepared questionnaire.
Results: In Clinical examination; mean (DMFT/deft score) was 2.77±2.25, major contribution by “D” component. Mandible was most affected arch with posteriors as most affected teeth. Educational status of father’s in control group was significantly better than the study group (p<0.001). A Statistically significant difference was observed between both the study groups as regards father’s occupation
(p<0.001). The monthly income of father’s in control group was significantly higher than the study group (p<0.001). The association and strength of association was judged by Chi square test and Odds ratio at 95% confidence interval between father’s socioeconomic variables and dental caries.
Conclusion: Paternal socioeconomic variables are significantly associated with dental caries among their children. Preventive measures are needed towards healthy oral practices keeping in view the paternal socioeconomic variable inequalities.