The aetiology of dental caries: a follow up cohort study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Biological, behavioural and social factors influencing dental caries- a follow-up cohort study
IRAS ID
158486
Contact name
Andrea Sherriff
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Glasgow
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 27 days
Research summary
There is a high level of dental decay in Scottish children, with the most disadvantaged children experiencing the highest levels of disease. This impacts on general health, wellbeing, schooling and quality of life, and results in a substantial economic burden for the health service. Dental caries is a preventable disease, and since 2010 Childsmile(CS), the national oral health improvement programme, has aimed to improve the oral health of children in Scotland, and reduce inequalities in dental health. To some extent the CS programme has been successful in improving oral health in children in the last few years throughout Scotland, however high levels of disease persist, particularly in more deprived communities, and it is important for us to understand why. It is widely recognised that to understand what part biological, behavioural and social factors play in this disease, we need to follow the same children over time. We have already recruited a cohort of nursery school children (n=219) in Glasgow and successfully followed them up one year later at school. We have developed methodologies, tools and analytical techniques to measure biological, behavioural and social factors associated with dental caries. It is important to continue follow up of this group as they get older, as oral health patterns change along with habits and behaviours (eg diet and toothbrushing). In addition to this we are in a unique position to collaborate with colleagues across the University of Glasgow, who are investigating the biological markers involved in the ageing process. Using our well characertised cohort of children, 30% of whom already have dental caries, we will test the feasibility of collecting blood in this age group to measure biomarkers of ageing, ultimately to help us understand why there appears to be variations in the rate of ageing between individuals with the same chronological age.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
15/WS/0003
Date of REC Opinion
16 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion