Gender differences in dental caries intensity in young and preschool children living in Moscow

INTRODUCTION. Early childhood caries (ECC) is one of the most pressing and unresolved problems in modern pediatric dentistry. The incidence and severity of this pathology show no trend toward decline worldwide. Some researchers note gender differences in caries incidence rates, while other studies deny a link between caries rates and gender. It is believed that the primary mechanisms underlying the genetic influence on the higher prevalence and severity of dental caries in females compared to males lie in the sex chromosomes, demonstrating sex-linked inheritance patterns. Delayed dental development in boys is due to the fact that males have larger teeth, which requires a longer development time. The causes of sexual dimorphism in dental development are associated with differential activity of genes that control dental tissue histogenesis.

AIM. To study the index of dental caries intensity and its structural components in children aged 1 to 5 years living in Moscow, depending on age and gender.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. A survey of children aged 1 to 5 years in Moscow was conducted. All children were categorized by age and gender. The average dental caries incidence was calculated for each age group and by gender. The results were analyzed statistically.

RESULTS. An analysis of dental caries incidence in young and preschool-aged children showed that this indicator increases with age. Statistically significant differences in caries incidence were found between age groups (H = 27.83; df = 4; p < 0.001). Statistically significant differences were found separately for boys and girls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.0002, respectively). A comparison of caries incidence in different age groups using the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test showed that caries incidence was higher in girls than in boys (p = 0.000003). At 1 and 5 years of age, the caries intensity in boys and girls differs statistically significantly (p = 0.000003 and p = 0.002, respectively), while for ages 2 to 4, the differences are statistically insignificant (p = 0.123, p = 0.103, and p = 0.730, respectively, for ages 2, 3, and 4). In the caries intensity index, the “k” indicator (caries) predominates across all age groups, and this indicator is higher in girls than in boys.

CONCLUSIONS. Dental caries occurs in all age groups and in both sexes. At all ages, the “k” component – caries of primary teeth – predominates in the intensity index structure. The dental caries intensity index is higher in girls than in boys at all ages. Statistically significant differences in the intensity index are observed between girls and boys at 1 and 5 years of age. Statistically significant differences in the caries intensity index are observed as children age.

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