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Updated: Jan 3, 2026
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Oral health status of children with epilepsy in Hong Kong
Patricia M Yeung1, Virginia C N Wong2, Colman P McGrath3
1Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Insights
Children with epilepsy exhibit poorer gingival health compared to healthy peers. Oral hygiene and dental trauma did not differ significantly, but multiple antiepileptic drugs increased caries risk in epileptic children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Oral Health Research
- Epilepsy Management
Background:
- Epilepsy affects children's overall health, potentially impacting oral well-being.
- Understanding oral health disparities in epileptic children is crucial for comprehensive care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare oral health status, dental trauma, and habits in children with and without epilepsy.
- To identify specific oral health challenges faced by children with epilepsy.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 35 children with epilepsy and 35 healthy controls (ages 3-18).
- Clinical assessments of caries, gingival health, oral hygiene, and dental trauma.
- Structured questionnaires for oral health habits and trauma history.
Main Results:
- Children with epilepsy showed significantly poorer gingival health.
- No significant differences in caries, oral hygiene, or trauma between groups.
- Multiple antiepileptic drug use correlated with higher caries prevalence in epileptic children.
Conclusions:
- Children with epilepsy have compromised gingival health compared to their healthy counterparts.
- Gingival hyperplasia is a marker of poorer oral health in epileptic children.
- Polypharmacy with antiepileptic drugs may increase dental caries risk.
Aim:
This study assessed and compared the oral health status, dental trauma experience and oral health habits of children with and without epilepsy.
Methods:
Thirty-five children with epilepsy aged 3-18 years old were recruited from the pediatric neurology clinics of 2 university-affiliated district hospitals. A sample of 35 age- and gender-matched healthy children was recruited as controls. Clinical data on caries, gingival health, oral hygiene level and dental trauma were collected and compared between the groups. Information about children's oral health habits and reported dental trauma experience were obtained by structured questionnaire.
Results:
Children with epilepsy had significantly poorer gingival health than healthy controls. No significant differences in dental caries experience, oral hygiene level, dental trauma experience, oral health habits and dental care service utilization were observed between the children with and without epilepsy. Among the children with epilepsy, those taking more than 1 antiepileptic drug had a greater prevalence of dental caries when compared with those receiving mono-antiepileptic drug therapy. The presence of gingival hyperplasia indicated poorer gingival health in epileptic children.
Conclusion:
The study shows that children with epilepsy had poorer oral health status in terms of gingival health than those without epilepsy.
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