A preliminary investigation of dental disease in children with HIV infection.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the levels of dental caries and gingivitis in a group of HIV-positive children.


METHODS
The study group comprised 35 children with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus attending The Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children.


METHODS
Outcome measures included the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth and surfaces in both the primary and permanent dentitions; plaque and gingivitis scores.


RESULTS
The children included 18 boys and 17 girls. They were aged from 6 months to 18 years, with 17 aged 5 years or less and 15 aged 6 years or older. Twenty-four of the 35 children had some caries experience. The mean DMFT was 4.4 and for those with permanent teeth the mean DMFT was 0.7. Mean plaque and gingivitis scores were 16.7 and 5.1 for plaque and gingivitis adjacent to primary teeth and 8.0 and 5.7 for that related to permanent teeth.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant treatment need for children with HIV.
Gelbier
M
M
Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Eastman Dental Institute, University of London, 256 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, UK.
Lucas
V S
VS
Zervou
N E
NE
Roberts
G J
GJ
Novelli
V
V
D000293:Adolescent; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010512:Periodontal Index; D015995:Prevalence