DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/S4W6-ZE26
Defense Date
2015
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Dentistry
Department
Pediatric Dentistry
First Advisor
Tiffany Williams
Second Advisor
Harmeet Chiang
Third Advisor
Tegwyn Brickhouse
Fourth Advisor
Peter Moon
Fifth Advisor
Al Best
Abstract
Purpose: To determine if there is an association between early childhood caries (ECC) and vitamin D deficiency, as measured via a serum sample. An exploratory goal was to investigate the possibility of measuring vitamin D with a salivary assay. Methods: Serum samples of patients who were scheduled for a dental or otolaryngology procedure under general anesthesia were assessed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), parathyroid hormone and calcium. Results: Our analysis indicates that the vitamin D levels of the controls and ECC group were significantly different. There were significant inverse correlations between: 1) PTH levels and vitamin D and 2) decayed, missing, filled teeth (dmft) and vitamin D. Conclusions: A relationship between low serum levels of vitamin D and the prevalence of ECC for children 0 to 6 years of age was observed. The salivary assay was unable to measure vitamin D, but future studies should still explore this non-invasive technique.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-1-2015