Avaliação das Condições Estomatológicas de Pacientes Portadores de Hidrocefalia Congênita

Abstract

Evaluation of the Stomatological Conditions of Patients with Congenital Hydrocephaly Objective: To evaluate the stomatological conditions of children with congenital hydrocephaly attending the Governador João Alves Filho Hospital (HGJAF) and the University Hospital (UFS), in the city of Aracaju, SE, Brazil. Method: Thirty children with congenital hydrocephaly (GCH) and 34 healthy children (CG) of both genders, aged 2 to 7 years were examined clinically to collect data referring to gingival bleeding index, oral hygiene, dfmt, dental anomalies, chronology of eruption, soft tissue alterations and palate shape. Statistical analysis was undertaken by the Student's t-, Chi-square and Fischer's tests (p<0.05). Results: Moderate gingivitis prevailed in GCH, while CG did not present gingivitis. Oral hygiene was regular for GCH and good CG. Mean dfmt was 1.53 for GCH and 1.44 for CG. GCH did not present filled teeth. No dental anomalies were observed, but furred tongue, maxillary anterior frenum and delayed tooth eruption were observed only in GCH. Narrowed palate was more frequent in GCH children than in those of CG. Conclusion: Children with congenital hydrocephaly presented less satisfactory oral health conditions than the healthy children, indicating that they belong to a group of patients with special needs. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to direct greater attention to their oral health, with inclusion of dentists in the heath staff treating these patients.