Untreated dental caries may lead to chronic health complications – dentist

A Paediatric dentist, Dr. Ifeyinwa Adegbulugbe has warned Nigerians not to neglect dental caries in children, stressing that failure to treat the disease could result in long-term health problems. The specialist in children’s teeth said dental caries is the most common childhood disease which is reportedly five times more common than asthma.

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The World Health Organisation described dental caries as the most common non-communicable disease worldwide, which is caused by acid production resulting from bacterial metabolism of sugars. The organisation also added that early stages are often without symptoms, but advanced stages of dental caries may lead to pain, infections and abscesses, or even sepsis.

According to WHO, dental caries is a major public health problem globally and is the most widespread non-communicable disease and is also the most prevalent condition included in the 2015 Global Burden of Disease Study, ranking first for the decay of permanent teeth in 2.3 billion people and 12th for deciduous teeth in 560 million children.

Dr. Adegbulugbe, who is also the president of the Nigerian Association of Paediatric Dentistry, in a statement noted that untreated dental caries could lead to significant acute and chronic conditions including early loss of teeth and malocclusion in adult dentition. She added that untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning.

The paediatric dentist also counseled pregnant women to avoid sweets, cariogenic foods like sweets, biscuits, juice, cake and beverages, stressing that it could cause dental caries.

She said: “Preventive interventions such as oral prophylaxis to pregnant women and to new parents or caregivers should be provided. They should be advised to avoid the transfer of oral bacteria to their child by maintaining good oral health themselves and by not placing food, utensils, cups, dummies, or teats into their own mouths and then into their child’s mouth i.e., avoid saliva-sharing behaviour. Infant oral health is influenced by maternal oral health knowledge and attitude since mothers are usually the primary caregivers. Therefore, supporting women’s oral health during pregnancy helps to establish a solid foundation for oral health in their children after delivery.”

The NAPD president, however, stressed the importance of early utilization of dental services by infants and children through the establishment of a ‘dental home’.

Dr. Adegbulugbe described a ‘dental home’ as the ongoing relationship between the dentist and the patient, adding that this will enable oral health care to be delivered in a comprehensive, coordinated, culturally effective, and family-centred way.

She explained that a well-established dental home can be used to provide children with preventive, therapeutic and emergency care that enables early intervention before problems arise, as well as helping to lower anxiety and facilitate referrals.

She said, “Since oral health is an important part of our overall health, one of the priority areas and targets of the National Oral Health policy is integration and promotion of Oral Health as part of general health in a way that would make it equitable, accessible, affordable, and appropriate for every Nigerian. NAPD has some recommendations in order to meet these targets. In pregnancy, paediatric oral health education should be part of ante- and post-natal clinics, and immunisation clinics. Close collaboration among members of various health professionals and community support groups should be instituted to ensure appropriate scheduling, presentation, and feedback.Dental care professionals should be a part of these clinics to give oral health education and teach the non-dental and child health professionals how to identify common oral diseases or carious teeth.”

Wumi/Punch