Dental health and treatment in a group of children with congenital heart disease

PURPOSES: The purposes of this study were to: (1) determine the prevalence of dental caries and developmental enamel defects in children with congenital heart (CHD) disease; and (2) evaluate previous dental treatment. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-six 2- to 16-year-old children were examined during their outpatient cardiology appointment. The study group consisted of 86 CHD children. Sixty healthy children formed the control group. RESULTS: Mean dmft and DMFT scores were 1.57 (+/- 3.01 SD) and 0.77 (+/- 1.42) for the study group and 1.81 (+/- 3.64) and 0.38 (+/- 1.16) for the control group, respectively. Eight out of 86 CHD children and 5 out of 60 healthy children had enamel defects on their permanent teeth. No significant differences were demonstrated between the 2 groups. The care index for primary teeth was 10% for the study group and 3% for the control group. In permanent dentition, the care index was 30% and 16%, respectively CONCLUSIONS: Children with and without congenital heart disease had similar levels of dental disease. The care index for primary teeth was higher in CHD children, although the overall level was very low.