ORAL HEALTH EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE PROGRAM
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| Title |
There Is No Direct Link Between Asthma and Dental caries but Associated Secondary Factors May Increase caries Incidence |
| Clinical Question |
Are adolescents and children with asthma more susceptible to dental caries? |
| Clinical Bottom Line |
Evidence for a definitive association between asthma and dental caries appears to be inconclusive. However, secondary factors of the disease could put both adolescents and children at greater risk of dental caries. Dentists should individually assess each asthmatic patient to determine increased caries risk. |
| Best Evidence |
(you may view more info by clicking on the PubMed ID link) |
| PubMed ID |
Author / Year |
Patient Group |
Study type
(level of evidence) |
| #1) 21828369 | Alavaikko/2011 | 11 studies on primary dentition 14 studies on permanent dentition | Meta-Analysis | | Key results | There is evidence that indicates asthma may double caries risk in both primary and permanent dentition. | | #2) 20807905 | Maupome/2010 | 27 studies investigating the link between asthma and caries. | Systematic Review | | Key results | They found no evidence of a causal relationship, but did indicate that the medications used by asthmatic patients may contribute to increase caries risk. | |
| Evidence Search |
"Asthma"[Mesh] AND "Dental Caries"[Mesh] AND (systematic[sb] AND "2008/02/18"[PDat] : "2013/02/15"[PDat]) |
Comments on
The Evidence |
The first article was a systematic review and meta-analysis that analyzed the relationship numerous studies to find the relationship between dental caries and asthma. This was the most recent systematic review on the topic and identified asthma as a risk factor for dental caries. The second article systematically reviewed 27 studies and found no causal relationship but indicated that further research was needed on the subject. The two articles come to seemingly contradictory conclusions. This suggests that the complex and multi-factorial nature of the relationship between asthma and dental caries makes identifying a clear link very difficult. However, the two studies indicate secondary factors such as medication, mouth breathing, salivary changes due to medication, flavoring agents, and changes in oral flora could affect the incidence of dental caries. |
| Applicability |
With the increasing prevalence of pediatric asthmatic patients, a clinician who was aware of the possible effects of secondary contributing factors would be better able to provide preventive care. |
| Specialty/Discipline |
(Public Health) (Oral Medicine/Pathology/Radiology) (General Dentistry) (Pediatric Dentistry) (Dental Hygiene) |
| Keywords |
Asthma, Dental caries
|
| ID# |
2455 |
| Date of submission: |
03/01/2013 |
| E-mail |
andersondm@livemail.uthscsa.edu |
| Author |
David Anderson |
| Co-author(s) |
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| Co-author(s) e-mail |
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| Faculty mentor/Co-author |
Howard McGuff, DDS |
| Faculty mentor/Co-author e-mail |
mcguff@uthscsa.edu |
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?) |
post a rationale |
| None available | |
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Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs) |
post a comment |
| None available | |
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