An exploratory study of maternal diabetes and offspring use of dental services-Northern Ireland national cohort study

IntroductionA small number of literature has posited a link between prenatal exposure to gestational diabetes mellitus and an increased risk of developmental defects in the enamel of offspring. However, the evidence remains inconclusive.AimsThis study examined the relationship between the diabetes status of mothers and the use of dental services by offspring to that pregnancy.Material and methodsAnonymised data from a cohort of mothers who carried a child to term in Northern Ireland between 2012 and 2017 and service use by the child were taken from administrative databases from March 2015 to September 2021. Descriptive statistics, differences in means and regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between service use and maternal diabetes status, controlling for covariates.ResultsIn multivariate analyses that controlled inter alia for age and deprivation, diabetes status was negatively related to restoration, extraction, prevention, and total service use. In the analysis of the COVID period, pre-COVID prevention was negatively related to extractions, restorations, prevention and services in general.ConclusionThe relationship between maternal diabetic status and aspects of offspring use of dental services was contrary to that suggested in previous studies and warrants more detailed investigation using this valuable data resource.

Automated summary

This study analyzed anonymous data from mothers in Northern Ireland who gave birth between 2012 and 2017 and their children's dental service use. It found a negative relationship between maternal diabetes status and offspring's use of dental services, contrary to previous research. Further investigation using this valuable data resource is warranted.