Dental Diseases and Intestinal Dysbiosis Among Children.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of the present study correlates dental hard tissue mineralization, mucosal pathologies in the oral cavity and different degrees of intestinal dysbiosis.

STUDY DESIGN: the study examined two groups: the study group (Group I) included 229 children and adolescents aged 1-17 (mean age 5±1years) with oral pathologies (caries, acute or chronic candidiasis) and confirmed dysbiosis of varying severity and stages as well. Group II (the Control Group) was composed of 50 patients aged 1 - 16 (mean age 5±1years) with oral pathologies but with no detected changes in gastrointestinal (GI) flora. Dental caries were examined by DMFT-index; the extent of dental hard tissue mineralization by vital staining (2% methylene blue) and cases of oral candidiasis was investigated by taking cultures from mucosal plaques.

RESULTS: on the basis of the research outcomes the correlation between the different degrees of GI dysbiosis and dental hard tissue mineralization with pathologic expressions in the oral cavity was found. Group I was divided into two subgroups: in the first subgroup that suffered from mild dysbiosis (I and II degree) moderate dental caries was revealed, whereas in the second subgroup with III and IV degree of dysbiosis-high levels of dental caries was detected. In Group II (no GI flora disturbances), the dental hard tissue demineralization indicator was minimal; in children aged 1-3 years the incidence and prevalence of caries were low and increased with age, reaching higher values during puberty (11-16 years).

CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that dysbiosis of GI microflora influences on a degree of dental hard tissue demineralization, which in turn may predispose to the formation of dental caries.