Oral status in children and adolescents with heart disease: Epidemiological and clinical aspects at the university hospital of Conakry

Background: Certain systemic pathologies such as diabetes, heart disease or viral infections lead to changes in the oral environment that promote the onset of oral diseases.Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the oral condition of children and adolescents suffering from heart disease at the University Hospital of Conakry.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive observational transersal study lasting 6 months from March 1 to August 31, 2021. In this study, we targeted all children and adolescents received or hospitalized in the cardiology departments of the University Hospital of Conakry.Results: During this study, we observed a prevalence of 85.19% of oral diseases, the most common of which were gingivitis 81.48% and tooth decay 70.37%, followed by dental abnormalities with 51.85% of dental malpositions and 44.44% of enamel hypoplasia. The male sex was the most dominant at 59.26% with a sex ratio of 1.45. In relation to the oral condition, we recorded an average CAO/co index of 2.89, the average HOS index of 2.37 and the average gingival index of 1.2.Conclusion: The oral condition of the children and adolescents surveyed was defective. Maintaining good oral hygiene and a balanced diet should be a priority. Collaboration between paediatric dentists and cardiologists is necessary to ensure better care for children with heart disease.