Caries Experience and Dental Erosion in Cystic Fibrosis Children

Objectives:Cystic Fibrosis is the most common lethal autosomal recessive inherited disease in Caucasians. Previous studies on patients with CF have reported variable caries prevalence. The aim of this study to evaluate caries experience as well as the dental erosion in CF patients and healthy controls. Methods: A sample of 35 CF patients(3-12 years old, 7.29! 3.96) 19 girls,15 boys, and a similar number(n=20,) of age matched control subjects(7,6! 3.30) 10 girls, 10 boys were selected. All children were examined clinically under standard illumination by a pediatric dentist(SP). Teeth were scored using type E probe and a dental mirror. Modification of the Smith and Knight Index was used the assessment of dental erosion. Caries Experience was expressed as DMF-T. Results: There were no significat differences in the age distrubution between children with CF and control. Twenty five percent of the CF patients(n=9) had no caries experience(DMFT=0) versus 15% for controls(n=3). This difference was not significantly different between both groups (p=0.62). Caries experience (mean!SD) for CF: DMF-T: 1.93, dt: 2.91!3.98, D-T: 1.58!2.09, F-T: 0.17!0.75, M-T: 0.05!0.23. Caries experience(mean!SD) for control: DMF-T: 1.90, dt: 3.8!3.35, D-T: 1.7!1.56, F-T: 0, M-T: 0.2!0.63. Sixty two percent of the CF patients(n=21) had erosion (n=21) versus 40% for controls(n=12). This difference was not significantly different between both groups(p=0.17). There were no significant differences in caries experience and dental erosion between CF patients and healthy control subjects in the present study(p>0.05). However as the aetiology of dental caries is multifactorial, other aspects need to be taken into consideration. Conclusions: Consequently there is a need for a thorough investigation on this issue. It should not be forgotten that oral hygiene measurements are the result of certain oral cleanliness.