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Bedos C, Brodeur J-M et al. J Dent Res 2005; 84: 931–936

Early life is a critical period for behavioural programming, and studies have shown numerous psychosocial effects on dental diseases. In this study, a random sample of 9,930 mother-child pairs was approached, and 6,303 mothers completed a questionnaire and brought a child (aged 5-8 yrs) for interview and examination. A group of 264 edentulous mothers was identified and compared with 6,039 dentate mothers. The latter had lower mean age, greater mean family income and higher educational level, and tended to have younger children.

Mean dmfs was significantly lower in 5-, 7- and 8-yr-old children of the dentate mothers (e.g. 5.18 v. 8.48 at age 7 yrs), and more of this group of 8 yr-olds were caries-free in the permanent dentition (74% v. 62%). Multiple logistic regression showed significant odds ratios of 1.7 for greater deciduous dentition caries experience in children of edentulous mothers, and 1.4 for the permanent dentition.