408 - Socioeconomic Indicators of Caries Incidence in an Iowa Pediatric Cohort

Objective: This study seeks to investigate the relationship between parental stress and children’s diet, sugary beverage consumption, hygiene, and DMFT scores.



Methods: Our study population included children aged 2-6 undergoing elective surgeries under general anesthesia at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital and a primary caregiver. Caregivers of eligible participants completed a questionnaire collecting data on demographics, oral hygiene habits, diet, systemic health, socioeconomic status, safety, and psychological distress. Intraoperative dental examinations were conducted on the children to assess participants’ dmft/DMFT scores.



Results: Higher levels of parental stress were significantly associated with poorer dietary patterns (p = 0.034) and increased sugary beverage consumption (p = 0.0413). No statistically significant associations were observed between parental stress and DMFT scores. Additionally, parental stress was not significantly associated with children’s oral hygiene practices.



Conclusion: Parental stress appears to influence children’s dietary behaviors, particularly increasing sugary beverage intake, but was not linked to oral hygiene or caries experience. These findings highlight the need to address psychosocial factors in promoting healthy dietary habits. Given the small sample size and qualitative nature of the data, further research with larger cohorts is warranted to clarify the pathways through which parental stress impacts pediatric oral health.

Identify Supporting Agency and Grant Number: Colgate CARE Award and University of Iowa College of Dentistry Seed Grant