Abstract
Purpose: This study aims to identify the dental caries, decayed, missing, and filled teeth index (dmft/DMFT) scores amongst children with cyanotic, and acyanotic congenital heart diseases (CHD), compare with healthy controls and identify the risk factors for poor dental health. Methods: Between January 2016 and June 2017, 236 children aged 2 to 15 years (mean±SD=7.61±3.88 yrs, median 7 yrs) with CHD and 951 healthy children aged 2 to 15 years (mean±SD=8.83±7.34 yrs, median 9 yrs) were evaluated. Results: Children with CHD had more caries in their primary and permanent dentition (mean dmft: 2.42±3.82, cardiac group vs. 2.32±6.68, control group; p<0·05; mean DMFT: 2.15±3.38, cardiac group vs. 1.27±1.89, control group; p=0.002). The DMFT scores for children with CHD were higher in the rural areas. Children frequently consuming biscuits, confectionary and sugared milk had higher dmft±SD scores. The possibility of caries in permanent dentition was more in children with cyanotic CHD compared to acyanotic. Caries in primary dentition showed positive correlation with age. Conclusions: CHD is associated with poorer dental health in children. Close cooperation between pediatric cardiologists and pediatric dentists is warranted to raise awareness, prevent and institute early treatment for dental ailments.
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