Factors associated with number of erupted primary teeth in Brazilian children: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether nutritional status, gender, weight, and height affected the number of erupted primary teeth in six- to 30 month-old children.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out involving an oral clinical examination, and weight and height measurements of 232 children, as well as a questionnaire filled out by their parents. Statistical analysis involved descriptive data, Spearman's correlation coefficient, Kruskall-Wallis test, and multiple linear regression in two sets, using the enter method to control the confounding factor (age) and the stepwise method for gender, weight, and height ( P<.05). The calculation of effect size proposed by Cohen was used to test the clinical significance of the findings.

RESULTS

The number of erupted teeth was not significantly influenced by nutritional status ( P<.58; Kruskal-Wallis test) or gender ( P=.95; Mann-Whitney test). Body weight had a statistically significant association with the number of erupted primary teeth ( P<.001), and height showed a positive correlation with this variable, both independently of the child's age.

CONCLUSION

The number of erupted primary teeth was affected by weight in children of the same age.