Oral and orthodontic characteristics in children with type 1 diabetes: a cross-sectional analysis: a pilot study from Hungary

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) may be associated with craniofacial development and oral health during childhood. Understanding such changes is essential for early prevention and coordinated dental–orthodontic care. This study aimed to evaluate skeletal characteristics, dental status, and oral health parameters in children with T1DM and compare them with healthy peers. A cross-sectional study included 233 children (131 with T1DM, 102 healthy controls) aged 6–18 years. All participants completed a WHO-based oral hygiene questionnaire. Clinical examinations (Decayed-Missing-Filled Teeth index (DMF-T index), Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S)) were performed in 94 T1DM and 74 control children. Panoramic and lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained from 59 participants per group and analyzed with OnyxCeph software. Group comparisons and associations with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), age, sex, and diabetes duration were evaluated. Children with T1DM reported more frequent oral complaints than controls (36% vs. 19%) and had higher OHI-S scores (1.04 vs. 0.82), while DMF-T values did not differ significantly ( p = 0.66). Cephalometric analysis showed associations between poorer glycemic control, longer diabetes duration, and subtle vertical craniofacial changes, whereas sagittal and dental parameters were largely unaffected. This cross-sectional pilot study identified associations between selected metabolic variables and craniofacial parameters, together with differences in oral health-related outcomes. These findings should be interpreted as exploratory. These findings highlight the need for further research into oral health and craniofacial characteristics in children with type 1 diabetes to better understand their potential implications for paediatric dental care.