Dental caries in HIV-infected children in Ho Chi Minh City

Objectives: Children living with HIV are at elevated risk for oral diseases, including dental caries, due to immunocompromise, long-term antiretroviral therapy, and limited access to dental care. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, severity, and treatment status of dental caries among HIV-infected children aged 6–17 years in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 180 HIV-infected children aged 6–17 years receiving care at Children’s Hospital 1 between August and December 2024. Oral examinations were performed by calibrated dentists using the WHO Oral Health Assessment Form (2013). Variables assessed included caries prevalence (dmf-t or DMF-T ≥ 1), proportion of untreated caries (d/dmf-t for primary dentition; D/DMF-T for permanent dentition), and caries severity (mean dmf-t/DMF-T and dmf-s/DMF-S). Statistical analyses were performed using Chi-square, Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskal–Wallis tests in Stata 14.2, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Overall caries prevalence was 88.3%, and 89.4% of decayed teeth were untreated. Among children aged 6–11 years, 78.9% had caries in primary teeth, and 95.9% of these were untreated. In permanent teeth, caries prevalence increased with age: 61.5% (6–11 years), 81.7% (12–15 years), and 86.0% (16–17 years). Boys exhibited higher mean DMF-T scores, while all girls with caries had untreated decay (100%). Mean DMF-T and DMF-S values increased significantly with age (p < 0.05), reflecting cumulative disease burden. Conclusions: HIV-infected children in Ho Chi Minh City experience a very high prevalence of untreated dental caries, highlighting a critical gap in oral health care. Integrating preventive and therapeutic dental services into HIV care programs is urgently needed to improve oral and overall health outcomes in this vulnerable population.