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Oral Health in Hospitalized Children: A Cross Sectional Study
Claudia Capurro1, Virginia Casali1, Giulia Romanelli1
1Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Insights
Pediatric inpatients often experience oral health decline due to hospitalization. Prior hospitalizations are linked to poorer oral health, highlighting the need for integrated oral care in hospitals.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dentistry
- Hospital Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Hospitalized children face risks to oral health from treatments, nutrition changes, and hygiene disruption.
- Oral health deterioration is an underappreciated complication of pediatric hospitalization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess oral health, diet, and dental history in pediatric inpatients.
- To correlate oral health with systemic conditions and hospitalization history.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled 559 children hospitalized between November 2023 and April 2025.
- Collected data via caregiver interviews and clinical examinations (dmft/DMFT, MGI, IOTN, PI, salivary pH).
Main Results:
- 86.9% had systemic diseases; 82.3% had previous hospitalizations; 65.5% used pharmacological therapies.
- Poor nutritional/oral health education was noted.
- Oral deterioration (20%), caries experience (63%), and cariogenic diets (93%) were prevalent. Prior hospitalizations correlated with poorer oral health (p=0.019), higher plaque index (p=0.023), gingival index (p=0.007), and orthodontic treatment need (p=0.006).
Conclusions:
- Hospitalization is a critical window for pediatric oral health interventions.
- Current oral health promotion in hospitals is underexploited.
- Integrating oral health promotion into pediatric hospital care is essential.
Aims:
Children with chronic or acute conditions requiring hospitalization, often exposed to pharmacological treatments, altered nutrition, and disrupted hygiene, may experience oral health deterioration as an underappreciated complication. This study aimed to assess the oral health, dietary habits, and dental history of pediatric inpatients in relation to systemic conditions and previous hospitalizations.
Methods And Results:
559 children, hospitalized between November 2023 and April 2025, were enrolled. Caregivers completed structured interviews regarding medical history, diet, and dental care. Clinical examinations assessed the Decayed Missing Filled Index (dmft/DMFT), Modified Gingival Index (MGI), Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), Plaque Index (PI), and salivary pH. 86.9% had systemic diseases, 82.3% had been previously hospitalized, and 65.5% were under pharmacological therapies. Nutritional and oral health education was poor. Oral deterioration, caries experience, and cariogenic diet were observed in 20%, 63%, and 93% of the participants, respectively. Children with prior hospitalizations showed poorer oral health (p = 0.019), higher PI (median 40% vs. 30%, p = 0.023), MGI (p = 0.007), and IOTN (≥ 4:28% vs. 13%, p = 0.006).
Conclusions:
Hospitalization represents a critical period for pediatric oral health, providing opportunities for detection, education, and prevention. However, this potential remains underexploited, underscoring the need to integrate oral health promotion into hospital care.
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