ABSTRACT
Many predisposing factors to caries are present in autism, however, it is unlikely that autistic patients exhibit higher caries indexes than the rest of the population. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate salivary factors related to caries in autistic patients. STUDY DESIGN: 34 autistics and 34 controls aged between 4-13 years old were included. Decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and oral hygiene simplified index (IHO-S) were assessed, as well as, pH, total proteins, phosphate, calcium and IgA in saliva. All data were analyzed by chi2 and Student t tests for independent samples. P values<0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Autistic patients showed less caries than controls (p≤0.001), DMFT was 1±1 and 3±2 respectively (p≤0.001). In relation to IHO-S, values increased (p=0.008) in autistic patients (2.25±0.78) compared to controls (1.79±0.59), however Salivary ph means were similar (7.20±0.48 and 7.27±0.34 respectively). Decreased calcium levels (p=0.013) were observed in autistics (0.621±0.35 mmol/L) compared to controls (0.89±0.51 mmol/L), but phosphate levels were similar (6.17±4.22 M, 5.51±4.86 M respectively). When total proteins of saliva were assessed, autistics showed a slight increment (2.65±1.81 mg/mL) compared to controls (2.24±1.27 mg/mL) and zymography showed a higher proteolytic activity in autistic children. Finally, IgA concentration reached 116.55±90.97 µg/mL in autistics and 161.61 ± 193.37µg/mL (p=0.527) in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Even though patients with autism exhibited a poorer oral hygiene, caries indexes were lower, calcium levels in saliva were found to be lesser and phosphate levels higher.
Subject(s)
Autistic Disorder , Dental Caries , Saliva , Adolescent , Autistic Disorder/complications , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , DMF Index , Dental Caries/etiology , Humans , Oral HygieneABSTRACT
La caries es una enfermedad infecciosa y contagiosa que por tener un a alta prevalencia a nivel mundial afectando tanto a niños como adultos, es necesario buscar y evaluar nuevas alternativas de tratamiento y prevención, que permitan mejorar la salud bucal de toda la población afectada, en donde el profesional debe estar involucrado.En cuanto a los métodos preventivos se encuentran los barnices con fluoruros y los derivados de la caseína, que se hallan en los productos lácteos, dentífricos y chicles, siendo de gran utilidad para pacientes pediátricos.Aunado a ello, se están utilizando actualmente, diversos métodos para la eliminación de la caries dental que permiten realizar procedimientos poco invasivos y que pueden ser aplicados en pacientes pediátricos o con discapacidad debido a que no requieren la utilización de anestesia local, ni instrumental rotatorio, mejorando la adaptación a la consulta y además obteniendo resultados favorables con respecto a las técnicas convencionales.Los diferentes procedimientos pueden ser mecánicos, químicos-mecánicos y de otros tipos como el láser que en conjunto conforman los métodos no invasivos. Ellos permiten una amplia variedad de opciones dependiendo de la población a la cual vayan dirigidos, tomando en cuenta el acceso a servicios de salud, estatus socio-económico, edad y requerimientos a corto plazo para evitar la extensión de las lesiones que implica perdidas tempranas de estructuras dentales que afectan la salud integral del individuo.
Dental caries is an infectious and contagious disease with an elevated prevalence in children and adults around the world. For that reason it is necessary to evaluate the new methods of prevention and treatment to improve bucal health in this population.In relation to the preventive methods, there are the fluoride varnish and casein derivates that can be in the milk, the tooth pastes and chewing gum and can be use to improve children´s bucal health.Nowadays there are many new methods that are using to eliminate caries in a non-invasive way. Many of them do not need the use of local anesthesia or rotatory handpieces and represent a good alternative to the behavibucal management of pediatric patients.The several methods can be mechanical, chemical & mechanical and others like laser that constitute the non-invasive methods. They give to the professional many options depending to some factors of the patients like age, social and economical status, possibility to access to health services and other requirements to avoid the extension of the caries lesions and the dental structure loss.
