Aim: Assessment of the effect of inhaled therapy with anti-asthmatic medications on the development of caries in children between 3 and 17 years old.
Methods: Study design: The study involved 208 patients, 114 in the study group and 94 in the control group. Data on general health condition of patients, use of medications, dietary habits and oral hygiene were obtained. Information on the onset of asthma, its severity and type, doses and method of administration of asthma medications were obtained from the available medical records by the paediatrician. Dental examination was performed using the DMFT/dmft and DMFS/dmfs index, ICDAS II classification and Nyvad's criteria for noncavitated white spot lesion differentiation. Additionally, an assessment of salivary S. mutans (SM) and Lactobacillus spp. (LA) was carried out using the CRT Bacteria (Ivoclar Vivadent) test.
Conclusion: There is still no clear consensus among the authors as to whether asthma and medications used in its treatment increase the risk of caries. Nowadays, despite better access to various sources of information, there is still a need for increased awareness in patients and medical doctors on the dental care and caries prevention in patients with asthma.