Evaluation of the Oral Health Status and the Impact of Oral Health Promotion in a Group of Egyptian Children with Chronic Liver Disease

Aim: The current study aimed to evaluate the oral health status of chronic liver diseased children in terms of caries experience, oral hygiene, gingival health, the presence or absence of staining or developmental teeth defects, and to evaluate the impact of oral health promotion on the oral health status of these children after a 6-month-follow up period. Materials and Methods: Sixty children diagnosed with chronic liver disease (CLD) were examined. Caries prevalence was recorded using DMFT/dmf/def indices for permanent, primary and mixed dentitions, respectively. Developmental enamel defects and oral hygiene index scores were also investigated. Oral health education of patients and their caregivers was carried out and the same parameters were investigated again after a 6-month-follow-up period to assess the impact of oral health promotion. Results: Children with CLD demonstrated high caries experience in their primary, mixed and permanent dentitions, with mean values of 5.88±4.37, 4.19±2.42, 2±2.18, respectively. Most of the children had substandard oral health conditions with mean values of OHI-S (1.73±0.74). Developmental defects of enamel with varying presentations were evident in 16.67% of the children. No statistically significant differences were found in DMFT/dmf/def scores before and after oral health promotion, however significant reduction in OHI-S mean value (0.90±0.60) was found after 6-months following oral health promotion. Conclusion: Children diagnosed with CLD exhibited inadequate oral hygiene status, together with high prevalence of dental caries. It is evident that education and preventive measures lead to positive improvements in the oral health of children with CLD.