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Influence of childhood asthma on dental caries: A longitudinal study
Tomi Samec1,2, Bennett Tochukwu Amaechi3, Janja Jan1
1Department of Dental Diseases and Endodontology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Insights
Children with asthma using anti-asthmatic medicines showed increased dental caries and faster progression. Lower medication doses and certain dietary habits were linked to reduced caries risk in these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric dentistry
- Respiratory medicine
- Public health
Background:
- Childhood asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory condition.
- Asthma management often involves long-term medication use.
- The impact of asthma and its treatment on oral health, specifically dental caries, requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of childhood asthma on dental caries development.
- To identify caries risk factors among children with asthma.
- To compare caries experience and progression between asthmatic children and their non-asthmatic siblings.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study involving asthmatic children (n=138) and their non-asthmatic siblings (n=140) aged 2-17 years.
- Caries assessment using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System-II (ICDAS-II) at baseline and after 3 years.
- Data collection included parent questionnaires and medical records for demographics, medical history, medication use, and oral hygiene behaviors.
Main Results:
- Asthmatic children exhibited significantly higher mean decayed, missing, and filled surfaces (DMFS) scores and fewer caries-free individuals compared to controls.
- A significantly higher mean DMFS increment over 3 years was observed in asthmatic children.
- Lower caries experience in asthmatic children was associated with lower inhaled glucocorticoid doses, leucotriene antagonist use, and daily consumption of milk and cheese.
Conclusions:
- Children with asthma using anti-asthmatic medications demonstrate increased caries experience and progression in both primary and permanent dentitions.
- Factors beyond anti-asthmatic medications also contribute to higher caries experience in asthmatic children.
- Findings highlight the need for targeted oral health interventions for children with asthma.
Objectives:
The study investigated the influence of childhood asthma on dental caries development and caries risk factors among children with asthma in Slovenia.
Material And Methods:
The study population consisted of 2-17 years old children (n = 138), who had used anti-asthmatic medicines for at least 1 year. Controls were their non-asthmatic siblings (n = 140). International Caries Detection and Assessment System-II was used to assess caries status. After 3 years, 106 baseline participants (53 asthmatic and 53 siblings) were reexamined. Questionnaires completed by parents and data from the patients' medical records provided information on demographics, child's medical history, medication usage, and oral health behaviors. Additional 308 asthmatic children were examined to assess caries risk factors among children with asthma.
Results:
Asthmatic children had significantly higher mean d12 fs and D12 MFS (p ≤ 0.05), and fewer caries-free individuals (p ≤ 0.01). In asthmatic children, 3 years mean increment in D12 MFS was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, progression over 3 years from sound tooth surfaces to decayed cavitated and filled lesions in primary and permanent teeth were present in significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) percentage, and likewise transition from decayed cavitated lesions to missing tooth surfaces because of caries in primary teeth, and from filled to filled non-cavitated and cavitated lesions in permanent teeth. Lower caries experience in asthmatic children was associated with lower doses of inhaled glucocorticoid use, leucotriene antagonist use, and daily milk and cheese consumption.
Conclusions:
Asthmatic children who had used anti-asthmatic medicines had higher caries experience and higher caries progression over 3 years in both primary and permanent dentitions. Besides anti-asthmatic medicines, other factors were associated with higher caries experience in asthmatic children.
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