Evaluation of changes in oral and dental health and deleterious oral habits after adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy in children.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate changes in oral health status and related oral habits in children undergoing adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy, focusing on dental indices and mouth breathing-associated symptoms.

METHODS

This prospective observational study included 52 children (mean age: 7.4 ± 2.1 years) who underwent adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy. Clinical evaluations included decayed, missing, and filled teeth for primary dentition/decayed, missing, and filled teeth for permanent dentition (dmft/DMFT) scores, plaque index (Silness and Löe), gingival index (Löe and Silness), and unstimulated salivary flow rate. Parents completed structured questionnaires assessing their children's medical and dental history, oral health-related behaviors, and symptoms. Oral health-related quality of life was evaluated using the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale.

RESULTS

Statistically significant improvements were found in salivary flow rate (from 0.43 ± 0.21 mL/min to 0.75 ± 0.19 mL/min), plaque index (1.58 ± 0.48 to 1.06 ± 0.33), and gingival index (1.28 ± 0.55 to 0.70 ± 0.39) (all P = 0.001). Several mouth breathing-related symptoms, such as snoring, dry mouth, daytime sleepiness, and halitosis, also showed a significant postoperative reduction (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy significantly improved periodontal parameters and reduced mouth breathing-associated symptoms in children. These findings highlight the importance of interdisciplinary management involving otolaryngologists, pediatric dentists, and orthodontists.