Oral health assessment in asthmatic children: An observational study

Dental caries and bronchial asthma are related, but the effect of asthma severity and medication on oral health has conflicting evidence in the literature. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate oral health indices in the outpatient Department of Dentistry, over a period of 2 years, in 1-17-year-olds undergoing treatment for asthma. Out of 168 children (115 male, 53 female), 13-17 year olds showed highest DMFT and Plaque index. Out of 77.5% of children with greater severity of asthma and duration >1yr, 61% children showed poor oral hygiene and signs of gingival inflammation. Children with chronic asthma a year ago had a higher mean deft/DMFT and also, significant proportional increase in mean deft/DMFT with age was observed. Oral hygiene was poorer and proportional to caries incidence and inhaler usage under-scoring importance of oral health maintenance after inhaler usage.