Author:

Keywords:

rampant caries, primary dentition, general anesthesia, treatment outcome, 1105 Dentistry, 3203 Dentistry

Abstract:

Aim. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the dental status of children with rampant caries in their primary dentition, one year after full-mouth rehabilitation, and to assess the impact of a follow-up program on the clinical outcome. Method.A longitudinal follow-up study was undertaken at the paediatric dental clinic of the Catholic University of Leuven. Children younger than six years of age, with rampant caries in the primary dentition (more than 6 active lesions) and treated under general anaesthesia, were randomly allocated to two different programs.A first group received standard preventive instructions on one single occasion while the test group returned for 4 additional preventive sessions (at 2, 4, 6 and 9 months post-treatment). All children were re-examined after 12 months. Caries experience, level of plaque accumulation, degree of gingival inflammation, and mutans streptococci and Lactobacilli counts were determined at baseline and one year later. Results.A considerable drop-out rate was noted in both groups of children (± 40%, no difference between groups). Although oral cleanliness and gingival condition improved and microbial load decreased, caries experience showed an important increase with a dmfsincrement of 5.6 and 3.9 in standard and test-group, respectively. Failure rates of restorations were considerable (33.0 and 26.1% of restorations in standard and test-group, respectively). Differences between both groups were statistically not significant. Conclusion. It was concluded that caries activity remained a problem in most of the children studied. Restorations failed in a considerable number of cases and the proposed follow-up program could not significantly influence the outcome. More adapted restorative techniques should be used and/or developed, a specific follow-up strategy needs to be worked out and the primary prevention of rampant caries should receive more attention.