Abstract:
A research project was conducted to study the effects of socio-demographic , maternal and
childhoodCharacteristics on deciduous dentition among children in the Kalutara district in
order to achieve the following objectives.Study Objectives are to determine the mean
eruption time (MET) of the first deciduous tooth and identify socio-demographic, maternal
and childhood factors that affect the eruption of the first deciduous tooth.To determine the
prevalence of developmental defects in the deciduous dentition and its' association with
socio-demographic, maternal and childhood factors. To determine the prevalence of dental
caries among two years old children and their association with Socio-demographic ,
maternal and childhood characteristicsTo assess the relationship of dental caries experience
between mothers and their children.Child Welfare Clinic based descriptive study was
carried out from June 2006 to December 2007. A cohort of 517 children aged 6-7 months
was followed up and at the end of the study period their mean age was 25.3 (SD 0.4)
months. Information pertaining to basic socio-demographic, maternal and childhood
characteristics was collected by administering a pre-tested validated self-administered
questionnaire to the mothers of selected group of children. Study suggested that both
prenatal and postnatal nutritional conditions during the Course of deciduous teeth
development would play a role in eruption time of first deciduous tooth and development
defects of enamel in deciduous teeth. Furthermore, the result of the study was supportive of
the multifactor aetiology for dental caries. It's close association with dietary practices and
behaviour; life style related aspect was emphasized again.
