ABSTRACT
Aim and objective: To assess the systematic reviews and meta-analyses investigating the dental caries experience in children with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). Study design and methodology: A systematic search was carried out from MEDLINE Via PubMed, JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, EMBASE, OVID, Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, and Epistemonikos databases. Two independent reviewers carried out the collection and analysis of the study data. Methodological quality was assessed by ROBIS (Risk of bias assessment in systematic review) tool. Review results: An initial search of electronic databases yielded a total of 25 relevant reviews, of which only three systematic reviews were taken into consideration for qualitative synthesis. The total number of unique primary studies among the three included systematic reviews were 25, of which overlap of the studies was calculated using citation matrix. The corrected covered area (CCA) was estimated to be 0.26. Based on the ROBIS tool, only one systematic review reported with low risk of bias. Conclusion: Individuals with CL/P report more decayed, missing, or filled teeth/surfaces than those without CL/P in primary, mixed, and permanent dentition. Future studies should focus on the factors which could modify the caries risk of an individual with CL/P. Clinical significance: This umbrella review offers a more reliable and balanced view regarding the dental caries experience among individuals with cleft lip and/or palate. This paper also highlights the important role of pediatric dentist in multidisciplinary health care team in implementing first dental visit and anticipatory guidance to consider early diagnosis and specific preventive interventions for Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in individuals with CL/P. How to cite this article: Abirami S, Panchanadikar NT, Muthu MS, et al. Dental Caries Experience among Children and Adolescents with Cleft Lip and/or Palate: An Umbrella Review. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2022;15(S-2):S261-S268.
ABSTRACT
Context: Early childhood caries is a major health problem affecting children worldwide. Although incorrect feeding practices hold a prime position in the etiology, there are gaps in the literature pertaining to the physical properties of milk. Aim: To assess the viscosity of human breast milk (HBM) versus infant milk formulae, with and without the addition of sweetening agents. Materials and Methods: All commercially available infant milk formulae (60 samples) and breast milk from 30 donor mothers were assessed for viscosity using Brookfield DV2T viscometer. The study period was from April 2019 to August 2019. Viscosity of infant milk formulae sweetened with sugar, honey, and brown sugar was further investigated and compared with that of HBM. Statistical Analysis: Inter-group and intra-group mean viscosity was compared using independent t-test and repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: Viscosity of HBM ranged from 18.36 centipoise (cP) to 91.30 cP, the mean viscosity being 45.7 cP. Viscosity values varied for each formula group, the least being as low as 5.1 cP and the highest being 89.3 cP. The mean viscosities of each group were in the range of 33 to 49 cP. Conclusions: HBM was found to have a tendency toward higher viscosity than most of the infant milk formulae. Also, varied viscosity values were obtained when commonly used sweetening agents were added to infant milk formulae. Greater viscosity of HBM might increase its adherence to enamel surface leading to prolonged demineralization and potentially altering the caries risk, needs to be investigated further.
