# Dental caries prevalence in children during temporary protective care according to type of abuse

## TL;DR

This study found that children in protective care with neglect have higher dental caries, suggesting nurturing environments matter more than abuse presence.

## Contribution

The study reveals that dental caries in children correlate with neglect rather than abuse presence in protective care settings.

## Key findings

- Children in care had 4.1 times higher odds of decayed teeth compared to national averages.
- Dental caries were significantly associated with neglect but not abuse presence.
- Proactive support is needed for children in problematic nurturing environments.

## Abstract

This study investigated the correlation between the prevalence of dental caries and the presence and type of abuse.

Participants were 534 children admitted for care at two child guidance centers (CGCs) in Niigata, Japan. Data pertaining to abuse, including the reason for temporary protective care and the type of abuse, and the oral examination results of the children, were collected. These results were then compared with those of a national survey and analyzed in relation to the presence and type of abuse.

The odds ratio for decayed teeth was 4.1, indicating a higher risk in children admitted to the CGCs. However, no significant association was found between the presence of decayed, filled, or caries-experienced teeth and the presence of abuse. A significant positive association was observed between dental caries and one type of abuse, indicating a greater prevalence of dental caries in cases of neglect. The findings of this study suggest that the type of abuse, rather than its presence, is associated with dental caries.

Our findings suggest that proactive support should be provided to children in problematic nurturing environments, regardless of whether they have been subjected to abuse.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-024-18833-y.