Investigators from several centers in Brazil evaluated the dental caries risk of asthmatic children. They enrolled 80 children aged 3 to 15 years from an asthma care program at the Londrina State University Hospital. All of the patients were either under continuous treatment with corticosteroids or were using bronchodilators. The study group was paired with an age- and gender-matched control group of 80 children selected from the local public schools who were not using chronic medications. Neither group had other systemic diseases or was using any medications that directly impair salivary function. Health interviews were conducted with parents, and asthma severity was documented. Saliva samples were taken to measure lactobacilli and mutans streptococci (MS) levels. Oral health status, caries experience, caries severity, and biofilm status were evaluated by calibrated examiners. Logistic regression was used to identify the risk of caries in a multivariate analysis. This analysis included the variables asthma or control, salivary MS levels, lactobacilli levels, and biofilm index, all adjusted for age.

First analysis revealed no difference in caries experience between the two groups. When the groups were age stratified, the oldest group, aged 11 to 15 years, showed a higher caries prevalence in the asthma group (2.11±0.36 decayed, missing, or filled teeth [DMFT] vs 1.05±0.31 DMFT in the control group, P=.024). Significantly higher levels of MS were observed in the asthma group (70.4±8.95 CFU/spatula) compared with the control group (44.2±4.81 CFU/spatula). There was a significant correlation between MS levels and caries experience in both the study and control groups. A significant correlation was found between MS levels and duration of asthma treatment (P=.026). Logistic regression revealed that MS levels and age were important risk factors for caries experience in the entire population.

The authors conclude that dental caries is a multifactorial disease and that children with asthma, in particular adolescents, are at increased risk of tooth decay and should be carefully managed to reduce their caries risk.