Deciduous teeth structure changes in congenital heart disease: Ultrastructure and microanalysis.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Dental Ultrastructure
• Biomineralization

Background:

• Congenital heart disease (CHD) is associated with oral issues like hypoplasia and high caries incidence.
• These oral manifestations suggest potential alterations in enamel and dentin structure in CHD patients.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for managing dental health in children with CHD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the ultrastructural and compositional effects of CHD on deciduous teeth.
• To compare teeth from healthy children with those from acyanotic and cyanotic CHD patients.
• To provide insights into the increased caries risk observed in CHD patients.

Main Methods:

• Thirty sound deciduous incisor teeth were analyzed, divided into control, acyanotic CHD, and cyanotic CHD groups.
• Teeth were sectioned and examined using Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (ESEM/EDAX).
• Statistical analysis included one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test to evaluate ultrastructural and chemical composition differences.

Main Results:

• Enamel in CHD groups showed increased dissolution and irregular prism orientation.
• Dentinal tubules exhibited widening, irregular outlines, and increased lateral branching.
• Significant decreases in calcium and phosphorus levels were observed in CHD groups.

Conclusions:

• Congenital heart disease significantly impacts the ultrastructure and chemical composition of deciduous teeth.
• Structural changes in enamel and dentin, along with reduced mineral content, likely contribute to increased caries susceptibility.
• These findings highlight the importance of specialized dental care for children with CHD.