Abstract:
Objective: To assess oral health status in relation to diabetes-related variables in a cohort of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).
Study design: Eighty-eight children and adolescents with T1DM (median age: 12 years; range: 6-17 years) had received a comprehensive oral health examination performed by a single dentist and included, simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-S), gingival-index (GI), dental caries indices (DMFT and dft) and stimulated salivary flow rate (SSFR; ml/min).
Results: Significantly higher frequency of patients had fair oral hygiene and moderate gingivitis (P<0.001). Significantly lower stimulated salivary flow rate was detected in patients within late childhood group (P=0.038). Increased prevalence of permanent dental caries was observed in late adolescent period (P=0.001). There was significant increase in primary dental caries in children diagnosed with diabetes before six years (P=0.004). Patient´s age was positively correlated with SSFR, gingival-index and DMFT-index. DMFT-index was positively correlated with T1DM duration and HbA1c level. There was significant positive correlation between OHI-S and GI.
Conclusion: Children and adolescents with T1DM displayed unfavorable oral health profiles that have been strongly linked to patient´s age, age at onset and duration of T1DM and level of metabolic control. Regular recall dental visits must be considered.