title: Oral health in non-institutionalized epileptic children with special reference to phenytoin medication.
abstract: The periodontal condition and caries experience was studied in non-institutionalized epileptic children (n = 55) who had not been subjected to any additional preventive measures. The children were distributed in a phenytoin (PHT) group with a mean age of 13.2 yr and a control group (mean age 11.8 yr) consisting of children treated with other anticonvulsants. The PHT group had a DF-s mean value of 5.4 in comparison to 7.2 in the control group. Determinations of gingival overgrowth based on the presence of gingival units with increased probing depth (greater than 4 mm) as well as the thickness of the marginal gingiva in buccolingual dimension measured on stone casts were performed. Although the plaque level and degree of gingival inflammation were similar in the two groups, 43% of the children in the PHT group showed one or more gingival units with increased probing depth (greater than 4 mm), but none in the control group. The thickness of the marginal gingiva was significantly (P less than 0.001) higher in the phenytoin-treated children compared to children who had never had phenytoin medication. In the PHT-group gingival overgrowth based on gingival units with increased probing depth was statistically significantly and positively associated with the variables gingivitis (P less than 0.05), visible plaque index (P less than 0.01), age (P less than 0.01) and years on PHT therapy (P less than 0.05).
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Modéer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dahllöf
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Theorell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010672:Phenytoin