Dental caries in children with asthma undergoing treatment with short-acting beta2-agonists

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dental caries in children with asthma undergoing treatment with short-acting beta2-agonists

AU - Mazzoleni, S

AU - Stellini, E

AU - Cavaleri, E

AU - Angelova Volponi, A

AU - Ferro, R

AU - Fochesato Colombani, S

PY - 2008/9

Y1 - 2008/9

N2 - AIM: This study sought to evaluate possible higher risk for dental caries among asthmatic children undergoing treatment with short-acting beta2-agonists.METHODS: Dental clinical assessments, saliva analysis and a questionnaire survey were carried out on 60 children aged 6-12, of whom 30 were asthmatic subjects undergoing treatment with short-acting beta2-agonists and 30 were used as controls. The obtained data for DMFT/dmft scores, Silness-Löe plaque index, buffer capacity and bacteria counts for Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus in the saliva, oral hygiene and dietary habits were compared using Student t-test and Pearson chi-square test.RESULTS: We registered a higher DMFT score among asthmatics of 1.2-/+1.8 (SD) and 0.3-/+0.8 among non-asthmatic patients (p<0.05), while comparison of dmft scores between the examined groups showed not significant (Student t-test). Saliva analysis revealed lower buffer capacity in 43.3% of the asthmatic children, followed by higher cariogenic bacteria counts in their saliva (p<0.05 Student t-test). These results show the lower plaque index in the asthmatic group (1.6+/-0.4) compared with the control (2.1+/-0.3). Asthmatic children expressed better oral-health habits with more frequent tooth- brushing and usage of fluorides.CONCLUSION: The results from our study suggest a higher caries-susceptibility among asthmatic children undergoing treatment with short-acting beta2-agonists, but a clear association between these drugs, salivary changes and dental caries among children, still remains to be demonstrated.

AB - AIM: This study sought to evaluate possible higher risk for dental caries among asthmatic children undergoing treatment with short-acting beta2-agonists.METHODS: Dental clinical assessments, saliva analysis and a questionnaire survey were carried out on 60 children aged 6-12, of whom 30 were asthmatic subjects undergoing treatment with short-acting beta2-agonists and 30 were used as controls. The obtained data for DMFT/dmft scores, Silness-Löe plaque index, buffer capacity and bacteria counts for Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus in the saliva, oral hygiene and dietary habits were compared using Student t-test and Pearson chi-square test.RESULTS: We registered a higher DMFT score among asthmatics of 1.2-/+1.8 (SD) and 0.3-/+0.8 among non-asthmatic patients (p<0.05), while comparison of dmft scores between the examined groups showed not significant (Student t-test). Saliva analysis revealed lower buffer capacity in 43.3% of the asthmatic children, followed by higher cariogenic bacteria counts in their saliva (p<0.05 Student t-test). These results show the lower plaque index in the asthmatic group (1.6+/-0.4) compared with the control (2.1+/-0.3). Asthmatic children expressed better oral-health habits with more frequent tooth- brushing and usage of fluorides.CONCLUSION: The results from our study suggest a higher caries-susceptibility among asthmatic children undergoing treatment with short-acting beta2-agonists, but a clear association between these drugs, salivary changes and dental caries among children, still remains to be demonstrated.

KW - Adrenergic beta-Agonists

KW - Anti-Asthmatic Agents

KW - Asthma

KW - Buffers

KW - Cariostatic Agents

KW - Colony Count, Microbial

KW - DMF Index

KW - Dental Caries

KW - Dental Caries Susceptibility

KW - Dental Plaque Index

KW - Fluorides

KW - Food Habits

KW - Hydrogen-Ion Concentration

KW - Lactobacillus

KW - Oral Hygiene

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Saliva

KW - Streptococcus mutans

KW - Toothbrushing

M3 - Article

C2 - 18844442

SN - 1591-996X

VL - 9

SP - 132

EP - 138

JO - EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

JF - EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

IS - 3

ER -