The dental health and caries-related microflora in children with craniosynostosis.

OBJECTIVE

To compare levels of dental caries, bacterial dental plaque, gingivitis, enamel defects, and caries-related microflora in children with and without craniosynostosis.

STUDY GROUP: Fifty-seven children with craniosynostosis and their matched controls.

OUTCOME MEASURES: The decayed, missing, and filled teeth and surfaces in both the deciduous (dmfs and dmft) and the permanent dentition (DMFS and DMFT). The plaque and gingivitis scores and developmental enamel defects were also recorded. The caries-related microflora was sampled using an alginate swab and the prevalence of Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus and Candida species were recorded.

RESULTS

The dmfs (p <.02) and dmft (p <.01) were significantly greater in the control children. The plaque score for the deciduous dentition only (p <.02) and also the gingivitis score for the permanent teeth only (p <.008) in the craniosynostosis group were significantly greater. The total aerobic bacterial count (p <.004), anaerobic count (p <.002), and Candida count (p <.05) were significantly greater in the control group. The proportion of S. mutans both as a percentage of the total anaerobic count (p <.04) and the total streptococcal count (p <.05) was significantly greater in the control group.