Oral hygiene and periodontal treatment needs in children and adolescents with coeliac disease in Greece

Authors:

ABSTRACT

Aim

To evaluate the factors that influence the oral hygiene and the periodontal treatment needs of children and
adolescents with coeliac disease (CD) in Greece.

Methods

The sample consisted of 35 children and
adolescents, aged 4-18 years. The evaluation included consideration of the detailed medical history, the duration of CD and
of gluten-free diet, the history of oral mucosal findings and a dental questionnaire that included information about oral
hygiene habits, symptoms of periodontal disease and dental attendance. The clinical dental examination consisted of the
simplified gingival index, the oral hygiene index and the periodontal screening and recording index. Statistics: The chi
square and logistic regression analysis were performed in order to determine the factors or parameters that had a statistically
significant (p0.05) impact on oral hygiene and periodontal treatment needs of children and adolescents with CD.

Results

The periodontal treatment need of children and adolescents with CD were high and most of them needed
treatment of gingivitis (60.01) and only a few subjects had a healthy periodontium (34.29). The periodontal
treatment need index, the simplified gingival index and the hygiene index correlated statistically significantly with the
presence of a coexisting disease, frequency of tooth brushing, bleeding upon brushing and oral malodor. Conclusion The
periodontal treatment need of children and adolescents with CD correlated with factors that related to the presence of a
second medical condition and to the personal oral hygiene habits. Additionally, the oral hygiene level and periodontal
status of children with CD do not have any specific characteristics but they have similarities to the oral hygiene level and
periodontal status of the children of the general population.

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