Dental caries in children with asthma undergoing treatment with short-acting beta2-agonists.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to evaluate possible higher risk for dental caries among asthmatic children undergoing treatment with short-acting beta2-agonists.


METHODS
Dental clinical assessments, saliva analysis and a questionnaire survey were carried out on 60 children aged 6-12, of whom 30 were asthmatic subjects undergoing treatment with short-acting beta2-agonists and 30 were used as controls. The obtained data for DMFT/dmft scores, Silness-Löe plaque index, buffer capacity and bacteria counts for Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus in the saliva, oral hygiene and dietary habits were compared using Student t-test and Pearson chi-square test.


RESULTS
We registered a higher DMFT score among asthmatics of 1.2-/+1.8 (SD) and 0.3-/+0.8 among non-asthmatic patients (p<0.05), while comparison of dmft scores between the examined groups showed not significant (Student t-test). Saliva analysis revealed lower buffer capacity in 43.3% of the asthmatic children, followed by higher cariogenic bacteria counts in their saliva (p<0.05 Student t-test). These results show the lower plaque index in the asthmatic group (1.6+/-0.4) compared with the control (2.1+/-0.3). Asthmatic children expressed better oral-health habits with more frequent tooth- brushing and usage of fluorides.


CONCLUSIONS
The results from our study suggest a higher caries-susceptibility among asthmatic children undergoing treatment with short-acting beta2-agonists, but a clear association between these drugs, salivary changes and dental caries among children, still remains to be demonstrated.
Mazzoleni
S
S
University of Padua, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Via Ospedale Castelfranco Veneto, Treviso, Italy.
Stellini
E
E
Cavaleri
E
E
Angelova Volponi
A
A
Ferro
R
R
Fochesato Colombani
S
S
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002021:Buffers; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014099:Toothbrushing
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D002021:Buffers; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005459:Fluorides