Oral Health Status of Children With a History of Liver Transplantation.

OBJECTIVES

Chronic liver disease (CLD) in children imposes a significant health burden that impacts their development. This study aims to investigate how dental health outcomes change after liver transplantation in children, focusing particularly on the post-transplant period, examining the effect of immunosuppressive therapy, dental and skeletal anomalies in this patient group, caries experience, and dental age-related factors, and to develop targeted interventions for these problems.

METHODS

The prevalence of dental caries, the presence of odontogenic anomalies, the presence of jawbone anomalies, the need for periodontal treatment, the need for orthodontic treatment, and dental age were evaluated.

RESULTS

Fifty children (aged 6-12 years) with CLD and fifty healthy controls participated in the study. The analysis revealed no significant differences between the groups in terms of dental caries prevalence, presence of odontogenic anomalies, or jawbone anomalies. However, a statistically significant difference was found in dental age. While the analysis revealed no significant differences in dental caries prevalence between the groups, it is important to consider the possible moderating role of regular dental follow-ups after transplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings offer valuable insights for dental professionals and pediatricians managing children with CLD. Future research with a larger sample size could further explore the association between CLD and dental age while investigating the potential influence of factors such as disease severity and medication use on oral health.