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Caries experience of children with cardiac conditions attending the Royal Children's Hospital of Melbourne
Author(s) -
Oliver KJ,
Cheung MMH,
Hallett K,
Manton DJ
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
australian dental journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1834-7819
pISSN - 0045-0421
DOI - 10.1111/adj.12647
Subject(s) - medicine , referral , confounding , dentistry , population , infective endocarditis , oral health , comorbidity , pediatrics , family medicine , environmental health
Abstract Background Poor oral health in children with cardiac conditions can have negative effects on quality of life and increased risk of infective endocarditis. The aim of this study was to investigate the caries experience in children with cardiac conditions attending the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. Methods Medical and dental records of 428 children aged <12 years were examined. Cardiac and other medical diagnoses, decayed, missing and filled surfaces/teeth were recorded and analysed. Children referred for reasons other than caries management ( NRCM ) was analysed separately to address confounding of referral reason on caries experience. Results Mean age of overall study population was 4.9 ( SD 2.4) years, caries prevalence 52.1%, mean dmft 3.65 ( SD 4.8), mean dmfs 6.19 ( SD 11.3), enamel defects prevalence 29.2%. Mean age of NRCM group was 4.6 ( SD 2.4) years, caries prevalence 37.5%, mean dmft 2.37 ( SD 4.2), mean dmfs 4.22 ( SD 9.4), enamel defects prevalence 23.0%. Untreated carious lesions accounted for 89.9% of caries experience. Caries experience was associated with low socio‐economic status, absence of comorbidity and enamel defect presence. Conclusions High disease levels were observed. Age, socio‐economic status and enamel defects were associated with caries experience, not severity of cardiac diagnoses. Early referral for dental care and improved access should be facilitated.