Background: Asthma is a serious global health problem that has steadily increased in prevalence during the last two decades. It is one of the most common chronic medical conditions affecting children's oral health-related quality of life.
Objective of the study: To assess and compare the dental caries experience and salivary S.mutans level among asthmatic and non-asthmatic children of Davanagere City, India.
Methodology: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted on 5 to 12-year-old children. Forty asthmatic and 62 healthy children were recruited as study and healthy subjects. Selection criteria: a) children with a diagnosis of asthma as diagnosed by lung function test, who were currently on asthmatic medication b) non-asthmatic status of healthy children was ascertained by asking relevant questions to parents and children which can elicit any symptoms of asthma. Study and healthy subjects were matched for age, gender socioeconomic status, diet, and oral hygiene practices. Dental caries experience for permanent and mixed dentition was assessed by Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) and decayed, exfoliated, filled (def) index, respectively. Stimulated saliva was collected for S.mutans analysis.
Results: The dental caries experience was found to be high among asthmatic children when compared to healthy children (mean DMFT/def score =3.05 vs 1.92). A high prevalence of dental caries (mean DMFT/def score = 5.27) was seen among asthmatic children who were under beta 2 agonists and had asthma for >4 years. A mean salivary S.mutans colony count (mean colony forming count = 94.1 vs 57.0) was greater among asthmatic children.
Conclusion: The severity of asthma and prolonged duration of asthmatic medication were the contributing factors for dental caries experience among asthmatic children.