AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse, tooth by tooth, the timing of caries attacks leading to dental restoration in girls with epilepsy. STUDY DESIGN: The series comprised 60 girls with epilepsy, 8-18 years old, treated in the Departments of Paediatrics or Neurology of the Oulu University Hospital. A group of healthy age matched girls served as control. METHODS: A tooth by tooth survival analysis of the time between tooth eruption and caries attacks to a stage leading to the restorations of the permanent teeth was conducted retrospectively using data from the dental health records with annual examinations. RESULTS: The rate of dental restorations placed due to caries was constantly higher in the girls with epilepsy than in their controls. STATISTICS: The difference was significant between the first molars (p=<0.03), second molars (p=<0.02) and central incisors (p=<0.02) in the maxilla. CONCLUSION: The present observation supports the hypothesis that factors related to epilepsy, the antiepileptic medication in particular, might increase the risk of caries.
AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse, tooth by tooth, the timing of caries attacks leading to dental restoration in girls with epilepsy. STUDY DESIGN: The series comprised 60 girls with epilepsy, 8-18 years old, treated in the Departments of Paediatrics or Neurology of the Oulu University Hospital. A group of healthy age matched girls served as control. METHODS: A tooth by tooth survival analysis of the time between tooth eruption and caries attacks to a stage leading to the restorations of the permanent teeth was conducted retrospectively using data from the dental health records with annual examinations. RESULTS: The rate of dental restorations placed due to caries was constantly higher in the girls with epilepsy than in their controls. STATISTICS: The difference was significant between the first molars (p=<0.03), second molars (p=<0.02) and central incisors (p=<0.02) in the maxilla. CONCLUSION: The present observation supports the hypothesis that factors related to epilepsy, the antiepileptic medication in particular, might increase the risk of caries.