Oral health in 4-6 years children with cleft lip/palate: A case control study

Abstract

Background:Oro-facial clefts are a major public health problem. Children with clefts rarely escape dental complications.Aims:This study was to determine differences in the dental caries experience, gingival health, and prevalence malocclusion, enamel defects and oral mucosal lesions among 4-6 year old children with and without cleft in Panchkula.Materials and Methods:The sampling frame consisted of 4-6 year old children with clefts visiting Swami Devi Dyal Hospital and Dental College, Panchkula, India. As a control group an age (±3 months) and gender-matched sample from the same geographical areas were recruited. Dental caries status, gingival health status, developmental defect of enamel, malocclusion and oral mucosal health were assessed and compared between the two groups.Results:Significant differences in dental caries and gingival health status were found between children with and without cleft. Anterior open-bite, increased overjet and oral mucosal lesions (P < 0.05) were more prevalent among children with clefts. Children with and without clefts had similar developmental defects of enamel (P > 0.05).Conclusion:Differences of oral health status exist among 4-6 year old children with and without clefts. Children fare worse in terms of dental caries, gingival health, oral mucosal health and malocclusion.

Comparing caries risk profiles between 5- and 10- year-old children with cleft lip and/or palate and non-cleft controls

“…Thus, the null hypothesis was rejected. The fact that the oral hygiene may be jeopardized and impaired in CL(P)-children has been suggested in many previous studies [2, 5, 8]. This can be a result of fear of brushing around the cleft area, the anatomy of the cleft or a loss of elasticity of the surgically repaired lip [2].…”

“…The association between CL(P) and dental caries in children is not fully clear but a number of studies indicate a higher caries prevalence in children with different oral clefts in comparison with non-cleft controls [2–6]. Several factors can contribute to this higher susceptibility such as impaired oral hygiene [2, 5, 7, 8], enamel hypoplasia [9, 10] and early colonization of caries-associated microorganisms [11]. Furthermore, parents to children with CL(P) tend to overindulge the children and offer them sucrose-containing food and snacks as a compensation for their medical condition [12, 13].…”

Children with orofacial clefts : dental caries and health-related quality of life

“…Studies from different parts of the world have shown a higher prevalence of dental caries in children with CL/P in comparison with non-cleft controls (Bokhout, Hofman et al 1996, Hewson, McNamara et al 2001, Kirchberg, Treide et al 2004, Al-Wahadni, Alhaija et al 2005, Stec-Slonicz, Szczepanska et al 2007, Al-Dajani 2009, Zhu, Xiao et al 2010, Chopra, Lakhanpal et al 2014. However, conflicting results have been reported including comprehensive reviews (Paul and Brandt 1998, Lucas, Gupta et al 2000, Lages, Marcos et al 2004, Hasslöf and Twetman 2007, Jindal, McMeans et al 2011, Antonarakis, Palaska et al 2013).…”

“…The background variables that differed between the two study groups were oral hygiene and salivary lactobacilli counts. The fact that oral hygiene may be jeopardized and impaired in children with CL/P has been suggested in many previous studies (Dahllöf, Ussisoo-Joandi et al 1989, Wong and King 1998, Chopra, Lakhanpal et al 2014. This can be a result of fear of brushing around the cleft area, the anatomy of the cleft or a loss of elasticity in the surgically repaired lip (Dahllöf, Ussisoo-Joandi et al 1989).…”

“…A number of factors can contribute to higher susceptibility such as enamel defects (Maciel, Costa et al 2005, Gomes, Neves et al 2009), early colonization of caries-associated microorganisms (Bokhout, van Loveren et al 1996) and impaired oral hygiene (Dahllöf, Ussisoo-Joandi et al 1989, Turner, Zagirova et al 1998, Wong and King 1998, Chopra, Lakhanpal et al 2014. A prolonged oral clearance time in children with CL/P may also contribute to a cariogenic environment (Ahluwalia, Brailsford et al 2004).…”