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Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
ASSESSMENT OF THE SEVERITY OF GINGIVITIS IN CHILDREN WITH DISORDERS OF TEETH FORMATION SUFFERED AFTER THE CHORNOBYL
1O. O. Bogomolets National Medical University, 13 T. Shevchenko Boulevard, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine.
Insights
Children with dental formation disorders in Chernobyl-affected areas show moderate gingivitis. Systemic enamel hypoplasia (SEH) and molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) are linked to chronic diseases and radiation exposure, necessitating comprehensive oral care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Environmental Health
- Radiation Biology
Background:
- Children residing in areas contaminated by the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) accident face unique health challenges.
- Dental malformations, including systemic enamel hypoplasia (SEH) and molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH), are prevalent in this population.
- The impact of environmental factors, such as radionuclide contamination, on oral health requires thorough investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the severity of gingivitis in children with disorders of teeth formation (DTF) living in radionuclide-contaminated territories.
- To identify potential correlations between DTF, gingivitis severity, and exposure to Chornobyl-related environmental factors.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 1470 children aged 6-14 years with dental malformations.
- Focus on 528 children from contaminated areas, categorizing them by DTF type (SEH, MIH) and gingivitis severity.
- Clinical assessment of gingivitis using the PMA index.
Main Results:
- Children with DTF in contaminated areas exhibit a moderate degree of gingivitis (PMA = (43.03 ± 19.64) %).
- Gingivitis severity was higher in children with SEH compared to those with MIH.
- Chronic diseases and factors like poor nutrition and hygiene, potentially exacerbated by low-dose radiation, contribute to the observed oral health issues.
Conclusions:
- Irradiated children with DTF experience moderate gingivitis, influenced by radiation, social factors, and oral hygiene.
- Systemic enamel hypoplasia is associated with more severe periodontal damage than molar-incisor hypomineralization.
- A comprehensive approach is needed to prevent complications of dental hard tissue defects in children exposed to adverse environmental factors.
Objective:
to determine the severity of gingivitis in children with teeth formation disorders - residents of the ter-ritories contaminated with radionuclides as a result of Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (ChNPP) accident.
Materials And Methods:
The object of the study is 1470 children aged 6-14 years with dental malformations, 528 amomg them are residents of areas contaminated with radionuclides as a result of the ChNPP with the identified types of disorders of teeth formation (DTF) (systemic enamel hypoplasia (SEH) and molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH)), and different stages of the severity of gingivitis.
Results:
Determining of the degree of severity of gingivitis in children with DTF indicates the presence of its lesion of a moderate degree of the severity with a prevalence in persons with SEH or MIH and chronic diseases of internal organs suffered after the ChNPP accident.
Conclusions:
In irradiated children with DTF, an average degree of severity of gingivitis was established (РМА = (43.03 ± 19.64) %, p > 0.001), which may be due to the effect of a complex of negative factors, in particular the influence of low doses of ionizing radiation, the peculiarities of the social status of the examined persons (imbalanced nutrition), unsatisfactory oral hygiene. In children suffered after the ChNPP accident with SEH, the indicators of the PMA index were reliable (p > 0.05) higher compared to individuals with MIH, which indicates a more pronounced degree of periodont damage. Revealed damage to periodont, in particular gingivitis, in children with DTF residents of the contaminated territories, probably caused by the action of a complex of negative environmental factors, in particular the influence of low doses of ionizing radiation, and the peculiarities of the social status of children, which requires a comprehensive approach to the prevention of complications of defects of hard tissues of the teeth.
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