The effect of parents' education level and antibiotics administration in early childhood on the oral health of 13-15-year-old adolescents in Brno

Aims: To assess the relationship between caries experience of 13- to 15-yr-olds and the education level of their parents/step-parents; and the relationship between enamel opacity prevalence and antibiotics (ATB) administration in early childhood in a retrospective case-series. Design: Randomly selected children from an ELSPAC cohort in Brno (n=780) were orally examined and their dental status (D3MFT [WHO 1997]) and enamel opacities (Dean's fluorosis index) were recorded. Data on parental education level and ATB administration were retrieved from the ELSPAC database. Correlations between DMFT vs parental education level, ATB administration during the following periods: birth-8 mo, 8-18 mo and 18-36 mo vs enamel opacities and D3MFT were calculated in SPSS.10® (Base, Regression) tool using a multilevel regression model. Results: Mothers'/stepmothers' (but not fathers'/stepfathers') education level significantly negatively correlated with D3MFT scores of children. The history of ATB administration was not significantly correlated with the prevalence and severity of enamel opacities or caries experience. Conclusion: The study confirmed a significant correlation of the education level of mothers/stepmothers and caries experience in children, while the correlation of ATB administration with enamel opacities and caries experience was not significant. Keywords: Pedodontics, caries, oral health, parental education, ATB administration