Energy-protein malnutrition and occurrence of periodontal disease on Brazilian children

Several studies relate the influence of nutritional deficiency on oral health. Objective: verify the oral health condition on 115 Brazilian children (from 6 months to 6 years, mean age 4 years and a half) with energy-protein malnutrition. Methods: The children, with history of malnutrition were examined, selected for monitoring in the Malnourished Attendence Project of the city of Vitoria, ES, Brazil. The anthropometric data collected (weight and height) followed the World Health Organizationxs recommendation. The anthropometric evaluation was accomplished using as basis the weight/age, height/age and weight/height indicators, following the Waterlow classification, in accordance with the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). A medical-dental protocol was elaborated to register informations that were in the children medical record, from where data referring to perinatal backgrounds, home environment, children medical and nutritional history were extracted. Oral health conditions were evatuated by clinical exams whereby it was observed gingival and periodontal disease. The oral hygiene index and the periodontal chart were registered on a survey form. Results: The periodontal chart related to the gingival tone had a prevalence of 55.7% for code 0 (pale-pink coloured), 35.7% for code 1 (intense-pink coloured) and 8.7% for code 2 (red coloured). These results suggest nutritional deficiency as an identified risk factor to oral diseases, therefore being relevant the dental attention in the intra-uterine period and during early childhood. Conclusions: it is important that children receive proper nutrition, in initial growing and developing phases, to achieve normal developing conditions and also, regular oral health.