Abstract
ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to assess the presence of plaque, gingivitis, and caries in a group of Sudanese children with congenital heart defects CHDs (cases) and compare them to children without CHDs (controls).Materials and methodsThis analytical cross-sectional study included cases (N = 111, with a mean age of 7.2 ± 3.0 years) and controls (N = 182, with a mean age of 7.2 ± 2.8 years) from Khartoum, Sudan. Examinations were done by two calibrated dentists using plaque index, gingival index, and WHO (World Health Organization) caries diagnostic criteria (dmft/DMFT index: decayed, missing, and filled teeth).ResultsChildren with CHDs (cases) had statistically significantly higher mean number of sites with plaque and gingivitis than children without CHDs (controls), although almost all children experienced plaque. Cases also experienced significantly higher mean dmft/DMFT than controls (age group 1, 3–7 years: 3.7 vs 2.3 and age group 2, 8–12 years: 1.3 vs 0.6). The Significant Caries Indices in cases (age groups 1 and 2) were also significantly higher than among controls (SiC 8.2 vs 5.9 and 1.8 vs 0.8, respectively). Fillings were totally lacking among cases and scarce among controls.ConclusionsThe findings clearly showed that this group of Sudanese children with CHDs was more severely affected with gingivitis and caries than the control group without CHDs. These results are cause for concern in children at risk of developing systemic infections and serious complications related to poor oral health.Clinical relevanceThese findings provide important baseline data for planning appropriate dental preventive strategies for Sudanese children with CHDs.
Highlights
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are congenital defects that occur during the embryonic development of the heart or the great vessels, resulting in functional impairment of both heart and circulation [1]
In 2013, ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrial septal defect (ASD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), pulmonary stenosis (PS), and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) were the most common CHDs and they accounted for 83 % of all congenital heart defect cases in Sudan [6]
Cases were diagnosed with a range of CHDs, among which VSD, ASD, PDA, PS, and TOF were the main types reported, accounting for about 70.0 % of all diagnoses
Summary
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are congenital defects that occur during the embryonic development of the heart or the great vessels, resulting in functional impairment of both heart and circulation [1]. CHDs account for 28 % of all major human congenital defects [2]. A systematic review from 2011, which included 114 papers, disclosed a substantial increase in the prevalence of CHDs during the period 1930–1995, from 0.6 per 1000 to nine per 1000 [3]. In Sudan, a study carried out in 2007 reported that the prevalence of CHDs among Sudanese children aged. In 2013, ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrial septal defect (ASD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), pulmonary stenosis (PS), and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) were the most common CHDs and they accounted for 83 % of all congenital heart defect cases in Sudan [6]
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