EVALUATION OF DENTAL CARIES EXPERIENCE IN CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL ZIKA SYNDROME

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the experience of dental caries in children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). Study Design: This is an observational cross-sectional study that uses information from dental records. Patients with a complete set of deciduous dentition were included; patients with incompletely filled out, torn, or erased records and children with inconclusive diagnosis of CZS were excluded. The assessment of caries experience was performed using the DMFT index (decayed, missing, and filled teeth in deciduous dentition). Results: Sixteen children with an average age of 2 years and 9 months, 9 females and 7 males, participated in the study. The population DMFT index was 2.25. Twelve children (75%) were caries free (DMFT = 0) and 4 children (25%) had a DMFT index between 5 and 18, with the most prevalent decayed component. These patients were still using a nocturnal bottle, had a cariogenic diet, and had poor oral hygiene. Conclusion: Our results rejected the hypothesis that children with CZS had a higher risk of developing dental caries and pointed to the effectiveness of early dental care for this population. This research had the financial support of the Scientific Initiation Scholarship Program: PROBIC UNIT/AL. Objective: To evaluate the experience of dental caries in children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). Study Design: This is an observational cross-sectional study that uses information from dental records. Patients with a complete set of deciduous dentition were included; patients with incompletely filled out, torn, or erased records and children with inconclusive diagnosis of CZS were excluded. The assessment of caries experience was performed using the DMFT index (decayed, missing, and filled teeth in deciduous dentition). Results: Sixteen children with an average age of 2 years and 9 months, 9 females and 7 males, participated in the study. The population DMFT index was 2.25. Twelve children (75%) were caries free (DMFT = 0) and 4 children (25%) had a DMFT index between 5 and 18, with the most prevalent decayed component. These patients were still using a nocturnal bottle, had a cariogenic diet, and had poor oral hygiene. Conclusion: Our results rejected the hypothesis that children with CZS had a higher risk of developing dental caries and pointed to the effectiveness of early dental care for this population. This research had the financial support of the Scientific Initiation Scholarship Program: PROBIC UNIT/AL.