Low prevalence of dental caries in children with perinatal HIV infection

Abstract

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The objective is to assess the prevalence of caries in children with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oral examination was performed on children aged 2-12 years with perinatal HIV infection who stayed at 'Calvary Chapel home of hope for special children' to assess decayed, missing, or filled primary teeth/decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth (dmft/DMFT). RESULTS: Prevalence of tooth decay in primary teeth (dmft) for the age group 2-6 years was 57.15% and 7-12 years was 20.0%. Prevalence of tooth decay in permanent teeth (DMFT), for the age group 7-8 years was 16.60% and 10-12 years was 21.42%. Of the 27 children examined, 59.25% were caries free, in which 40.0% were male children and 70.58% were female children. CONCLUSION: Based on these results we can conclude that oral hygiene can be maintained with a favorable dental behavior.