Carlos Alberto Feldens

Objectives: To review and synthesise the available evidence on the association between maternal education and early childhood caries (ECC). Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was employed to identify relevant studies published up to September 2025. Databases searched were PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EMBASE. Authors of selected studies were contacted for additional information and to search for unpublished studies. A rigorous screening of publications was conducted, and data were extracted independently by two reviewers. All analytical study designs were included without language or year of publication restriction. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa guidelines. Random‐effects stratified meta‐analyses were conducted to estimate the pooled odds ratio (OR). Meta‐regression was carried out to assess potential factors associated with heterogeneity, such as study design, diagnostic criteria, sample characteristics, community fluoridation programmes, country economic indicators, and social policies. Results: The search retrieved 5562 unique articles and 155, conducted in 44 different countries, were included after full‐text reading. The majority were cross‐sectional ( n = 124), followed by cohort ( n = 24) and case–control ( n = 7). The diagnostic criteria for dental caries varied across studies: 116 reported cavitated lesions, 39 included noncavitated lesions. The pooled effect showed that children of mothers with lower education had significantly higher chances of developing ECC compared to those of mothers with higher education: OR = 1.82 (95% CI 1.65–2.02 I ² : 88.8%). Neither study characteristics nor country of dataset were able to significantly explain heterogeneity ( p > 0.05), although the association was stronger among High‐Income countries (OR = 1.92) than among Lower‐Middle‐Income countries (OR = 1.61) and among the highest tertile of social spending (OR = 1.98) than the lowest tertile (OR = 1.63). Social spending explained 3% of heterogeneity, all other explained less than 1% or nearly zero. Conclusion: Maternal education is a consistent risk factor for ECC regardless of study characteristics.

Purpose To investigate the distribution and risk factors of oral inclusion cysts (OICs) at birth, estimate the prognosis and analyse the impact on breastfeeding and tooth eruption in the first year-of-life. Methods A birth cohort study was conducted at Canoas University Hospital, southern Brazil, including 1181 mother–child dyads. Oral inclusion cysts were assessed at the hospital shortly after birth. Data on feeding practices and tooth eruption were collected at 6 and 12 months. A second clinical examination was performed at 12 months. Poisson regression with robust variance was used for statistical analysis. Results The prevalence of OICs at birth was 72.4% (95% CI 69.7–75.1%), with no significant differences across maternal or infant characteristics. Oral inclusion cysts had no impact on breastfeeding in the first hour of life or at 30 days (RR = 1.45; 95% CI 0.90–2.35), nor on the timing of tooth eruption (RR = 0.90; 95% CI 0.79–1.02). At 12 months, the prevalence of OICs was 1.5%. Conclusion OICs are common, transient findings in early infancy and do not affect breastfeeding or the eruption of primary teeth. Training healthcare professionals to recognise their benign nature can help prevent unnecessary treatments.

Background: The risk factors for early life sugar consumption in different countries have not been thoroughly mapped, making it difficult to plan interventions. Summary: This scoping review aims to map evidence on the risk factors for introduction of sugar in the first 2 years of life and to characterize the methodological features of the studies included. Population, Concept, and Context strategy (PCC) was adopted to identify relevant studies published up to February 2025 using PubMed, Scopus, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source, and Web of Science databases. Any interventional or observational study investigating associated or risk factors for the early introduction of sugar in the first 2 years of age was eligible. The study had no funding, and the protocol was not registered. In total, 348 articles were suitable for initial screening of title and abstracts; 118 were submitted to full-text analysis, identifying 19 papers involving 43,622 children from Europe (n = 6), North America (n = 5), South America (n = 3), Asia (n = 3), and Oceania (n = 2). Considerable methodological variation was found between studies, particularly in study design, data collection instruments, and types of sugar investigated. The introduction of sugar was earlier among children from regions with greater socioeconomic inequalities and from mothers with lower level of education, younger age, single mothers, and higher number of siblings. Additionally, behavioral risk factors identified included higher parental sugar consumption, maternal smoking, and shorter breastfeeding duration. Key Messages: The risk factors identified in this scoping review can inform the planning of future strategies to prevent sugar consumption in the first 2 years of life. Furthermore, substantial methodological variations identified across studies may guide researchers in developing future research in this field.

Purpose The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between maternal depressive symptoms and Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in children residing in rural communities in southern Brazil. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 236 children aged 1–5 years and their mothers. Mothers answered the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) addressing depressive symptoms and a structured questionnaire investigating demographic, socioeconomic and behavioural characteristics. The mothers and children underwent oral health examinations using the WHO criteria (DMFT and dmft index, respectively). The outcome was the occurrence of ECC (dmft ≥ 1) and the main exposure was symptoms of maternal depression. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to estimate prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals adjusted for potential confounding variables. Results Overall, 37.7% of the children had ECC and 21.5% of the mothers had symptoms of depression. The prevalence of ECC was significantly higher among children of mothers with depressive symptoms (52.0%) compared to those of mothers without symptoms (34.6%). The multivariate analysis showed that the likelihood of ECC was nearly 50% higher in children whose mothers presented depressive symptoms (PR = 1.46; 95% CI 1.04–2.05) compared to those with mothers without depressive symptoms. Conclusion The symptoms of maternal depression increased the likelihood of ECC in preschool children living in a rural area.

This article highlights the transformative initiatives of the Global Consortium of Oral Health Birth Cohort Studies (GLOBICS) as a key response to the call for a global overhaul of the oral health agenda. Recognizing the critical role of birth cohort studies in public health, particularly in understanding the interplay between oral health, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and social inequalities, GLOBICS is spearheading efforts that are research driven and focused on translational pathways. GLOBICS is advancing an International Research Agenda with 8 key priorities aimed at addressing the most pressing questions in oral health research. These priorities shall guide pooled analyses from oral health birth cohort studies (OHBCS) spread across the globe, enabling the consortium to generate robust evidence answering core research questions. One of the major efforts of GLOBICS is data harmonization, which involves standardizing and integrating data from multiple sources to ensure consistency and comparability. This process is vital for generating reliable global insights and fostering collaborations with new research partners. GLOBICS also emphasizes the nurturing of the next generation of OHBCS researchers, ensuring that the field continues to grow and innovate. The consortium’s commitment to disseminating and translating its findings is central to its mission. By supporting the development of clinical practice guidelines, policies, and public health information tailored to the specific contexts of its collaborators, GLOBICS is making strides toward tangible improvements in global oral health. This work is a testament to the power of collaborative research and an invitation for further contributions to this global effort.

Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) in early childhood exert a negative impact on the quality of life of children and their families. However, there is no evidence from cohort studies on which to base prevention strategies at the beginning of life, when children are entirely dependent upon supervision. The aim of the present study was to estimate the incidence of TDI in the first year of life and explore risk factors in a birth cohort followed up in three major cities in different regions of Brazil. A birth cohort study was conducted with children in the cities of Porto Alegre, Salvador, and Manaus. Socioeconomic, demographic, and anthropometric characteristics were collected at baseline. Behavioral characteristics were collected when the children were six and 12 months of age. After the first year of life, clinical examinations were performed by trained, calibrated dentists for the assessment of TDI (Andreasen’s criteria). Poisson regression models were used to estimate associations between the independent variables and TDI, with the calculation of crude and adjusted relative risk (RR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). The incidence of TDI in the first year of life (range: 12 to 16 months) was 18.1% (95% CI: 13.6–22.6%). The multivariable analysis revealed a significantly greater risk of TDI in children from non-nuclear families (RR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.11-3.00) as well as those whose mothers had a higher level of schooling (RR = 2.42; 95% CI: 1.04–5.63) and when tooth eruption began up to six months of age (RR = 2.30; 95% CI: 1.34–3.95). Being the first-born child was a protective factor (RR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.27–0.87) for the occurrence of the outcome. The high incidence of TDI in the first year of life indicates the need for primary prevention strategies with an emphasis on active supervision in the first months of life. Risk factors associated with TDI related to the family, mother and child suggest pathways for the planning of such strategies.

Objective: Describe baseline maternal and newborn variables in a birth cohort study.

The emergence of toothpastes containing different abrasive and whitening substances has been a constant concern among dental professionals. The aim of the present study was to perform an in vitro assessment of the surface topography of nanoparticle composite resins subjected to simulated brushing with dentifrices. Test samples were prepared with Filtek Universal (3M ESPE), Filtek Bulkfill (3M ESPE) and Z350 (3M ESPE), with 24 samples per resin. A testing machine was used to simulate brushing with the dentifrices Colgate Total 12, Oral B 100% and Oral B Gengiva Detox Gentle Whitening (8 samples per group). The constant speed of the machine was 250 cycles per minute, and 20.000 cycles were carried out, which corresponds to 24 months (1 hour and 20 minutes). Roughness features and qualitative surface topography were investigated. Statistical analysis involved the Kruskal–Wallis, Wilcoxon and Mann–Whitney tests. A significant increase in surface roughness was found for all the resins (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found among the resins in terms of final roughness values (p = 0.690). In contrast, a significant difference among dentifrices was found with respect to roughness measurements (p < 0.001). The qualitative analysis revealed an increase in surface roughness in all the samples and differences in the abrasive potential of the dentifrices. In conclusion, brushing with dentifrices increases the surface roughness parameters of composite resin restorations. Moreover, the differences in the abrasive effects of the dentifrices indicate a need for further studies to establish efficacy and safety criteria.

The GLOBICS—Global Consortium of Oral Health Birth Cohort Studies (OHBCS)—is a long-lasting international collaborative research group among existing OHBCS, established in response to the Lancet Series on Oral Health, which pointed out the need to shift the global oral health agenda. This study aimed to identify priority research questions from OHBCS that can be leveraged to improve children’s global oral health. A 2-phase online Delphi process sought consensus over research priorities for OHBCS. Participants were identified by mapping existing OHBCS. Fourteen research questions were grouped into 4 thematic areas. A 9-point Likert-type scale was applied. Consensus was achieved if the question had (1) at least 51% of participants scoring a research question as “high priority,” (2) an interquartile range of <2.5, and (3) a standard deviation of <1.7 or 75% of responses falling between 2 points above and below the mean score. Forty-four of 114 participants completed the Delphi survey. The 8 research priorities identified included questions about the effect of childhood dental visits on oral health throughout life ( n = 2), questions related to sugar consumption and dental caries in childhood and adolescence ( n = 4), infant growth and dental diseases ( n = 1), and whether socioeconomic inequalities in dental caries are mitigated by fluoride exposure ( n = 1). Guided by expert insight, the priorities identified for future OHBCS research should leverage a life course perspective to address knowledge gaps in children’s oral health and oral health equity.