Condição de saúde bucal em crianças com complexidade médica domiciliadas

Abstract

Children with Medical Complexity in Home Care Services (CMCHC) have multiple pathologies and present the use of multiple drugs. The systemic commitment of these pediatric patients requires the support of a multi-professional team, being relevant the approach in oral health, giving the close link with the systemic health. Home care in oral health improves access to dental services and should emphasize prevention, promotion, and oral health care that have a positive impact on systemic health. The objective of the study was to evaluate the oral health of CMCHC, as well as the diet habits and oral hygiene performed by caregivers. Additionally, the saliva and dental plaque composition were evaluated considering their possible correlation with oral or systemic health. A cross-sectional study was performed with 56 CMCHC. The caregivers answered a questionnaire about disease diagnosis, clinical history, dental history, and oral hygiene routine. Besides the clinical examination, saliva and dental plaque samples were collected and analyzed by infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transform. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were used, as well as t-Student and Kendall's correlation tests. It could be concluded that:1- a significant part of the CMCHC presented poor oral hygiene, dental calculus, gingivitis, and gingival hyperplasia; 2- there was a correlation between dental calculus, gingivitis, and gingival hyperplasia, both with the use of antiepileptics and gastrostomy feeding; 3- the CMCHC presented oral alterations, which lack regular dental follow-up; 4- there are differences in salivary and dental plaque composition between CMCHC and healthy children; 5- the CO2 levels of saliva and dental plaque were correlated with the presence of calculus and gingival hyperplasia.