PREVALENCE OF CARIES OF PERMANENT TEETH IN CHILDREN AGED 9–17 YEARS WITH DISEASES GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

Abstract

The prevalence of dental caries worldwide is high. According to World Health Organization (2022), untreated caries has been diagnosed in one-third of the world’s population. Of particular concern to researchers is the high prevalence of caries among children, which globally ranges from 36.5% to 90.0%. In Ukraine, according to numerous studies, the prevalence of caries in permanent teeth among children aged 6–18 years ranges from 42% to 96%, with a caries intensity of 0.07–6.5 teeth. Numerous studies have confirmed a significantly higher incidence of dental caries in children with somatic pathology. Among non-communicable diseases, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) disorders occupy a prominent place, and their prevalence increases with age in children. Modern scientific literature contains studies indicating a relationship between GIT diseases and dental caries. However, given the simultaneous increase in both dental morbidity and GIT diseases in children, a comprehensive and in-depth study of this issue remains relevant. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the condition of hard dental tissues in children with GIT diseases. Materials and Methods: To achieve this goal, 98 children aged 9–17 years with GIT diseases were examined (main group), including 40 children aged 9–12 years and 58 children aged 13–17 years, as well as 87 conditionally healthy children (comparison group), including 33 children aged 9–12 years and 54 children aged 13–17 years. The children were examined in the gastroenterology department of the Clinical Center of Pediatric Medicine in accordance with the main provisions of the Helsinki Declaration on biomedical research (Seoul, 2008). Informed consent was obtained from the parents. The prevalence (%) and intensity of caries in permanent teeth were determined using the DMF index. The study results were statistically processed using Student’s t-test. Scientific novelty: A higher prevalence of caries in permanent teeth was found among examined children aged 9–17 years with GIT diseases (94.90±2.22%) compared to children in the comparison group (79.31±4.34%), with caries intensity of 4.48±0.68 teeth and 2.58±0.40 teeth, respectively. A clear trend toward an age-related increase in the number of children with caries in both groups was observed, with significantly higher values in children with GIT diseases. In the comparison group, caries intensity increased by 33.76%, while in the main group it increased by 35.41%. Analysis of the DMF index structure in the main group showed that the “D” component predominated, being 2.24 times higher than the “F” component and 2.84 times higher compared to the same indicator in the comparison group. In the comparison group, the “F” component was 41.62% higher than the “D” component and 26.00% higher than in the main group. Children with GIT diseases had 0.33±0.07 extracted teeth, which is 4.12 times higher than in the comparison group (0.08±0.02 teeth). It was also found that each child with GIT disease had 0.68±0.11 teeth with complicated forms of caries, compared to 0.11±0.05 teeth in the comparison group. Conclusions: The study results indicate a higher prevalence of caries in permanent teeth among children aged 9–17 years with GIT diseases compared to children in the comparison group. These findings may suggest the influence of this somatic pathology on the development and progression of dental caries, which requires further comprehensive research.