Objective : To investigate the correlation between vitamin D levels and the risk of early childhood caries (ECC), and to provide a reference for the primary prevention of ECC in children. Methods : A total of 389 children aged 6 months to 48 months were enrolled in this study. Data of feeding patterns and oral health behaviors were collected, and decayed-missing-filled teeth (dmft) were recorded. The children were divided into an ECC group (dmft > 0, n= 146) and a caries-free group (dmft=0, n=243). Peripheral blood of fingertips was collected to detect the active form of vitamin D--25(OH)D in vivo, and the cariogenic activity of dental plaque was analyzed with the Cariostat test. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to analyze the correlation among caries related factors such as 25(OH)D levels and caries risk in patients with ECC. Results: There was no significant difference in the prevalence of dental caries among 25(OH)D deficiency, insufficiency and normal children (χ2=2.320, P=0.313). There was no correlation between dmft and 25(OH)D levels (dmft=1-3, r < 0.001, P > 0.05; dmft > 3, r= 0.009, P > 0.05). The risk factors for ECC were age (OR=1.082, 95% CI: 1.045-1.121, P < 0.001), breastfeeding within 6 months after birth (OR=2.789, 95% CI: 1.581-4.921, P < 0.001), nighttime milk consumption or sleeping with a nipple (OR=4.187, 95% CI: 1.938-9.048, P < 0.001), and a high Cariostat value of 1.5-3.0 (OR=4.173, 95% CI: 2.014-8.646, P < 0.001). Conclusion There was no correlation between 25(OH)D level and caries in children aged 6-48 months. The risk factors for ECC are age, breastfeeding before 6 months old, nighttime milk consumption or sleeping with a nipple and high cariogenic activity (Cariostat value of 1.5-3.0). It is necessary to establish good feeding habits and oral hygiene habits for children while promoting breastfeeding.

Objective:To compare the caries experience and the kinds of dental treatment between children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and children without systemic disease who were all treated under general anesthesia.Methods:Totally 103 children with ASD who received dental treatments under general anesthesia in 13 professional dental hospitals around China from April to November 2016 were included in the present study. A group of 97 children without systemic disease, according to the age, gender and application propensity score matching method, were chosen as controls, who received dental treatments under general anesthesia between January 2015 to November 2018 in the same hospitals as the children with ASD. Decay missing filling tooth (DMFT/dmft, DMFT for permanent teeth and dmft for primary teeth) indices of two groups of children and the contents of the dental treatments under general anesthesia were analyzed.Results:No significant difference of DMFT/dmft index ［ M( Q25, Q75)］ was found between children with ASD group ［0 (0, 3)/11(8, 14)］ and control group ［0 (0, 3)/9(7, 13)］ ( P>0.05). The average number of dental treatments under general anesthesia and the average number of endodontic treatment in children with ASD were 13 (11, 15) and 3 (2, 6) teeth respectively, while those in the control group were 12 (9, 14) and 2 (1, 4) teeth respectively, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusions:No significant difference was found between children with ASD and the normal controls who receive dental treatments under general anesthesia in DMFT/dmft index, but the treatment needs of children with ASD is relatively higher, and their tooth decay is relatively severer.