Work

Oral Health of Children with Congenital Heart Disease at a Philanthropic Reference Hospital: An Interventional Clinical Trial

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Objective: To promote an oral health education intervention in children with congenital heart disease. Material and Methods: The study was conducted as a preventive clinical trial at the Dentistry outpatient clinic of the Prof. Fernando Figueira Institute of Integral Medicine. Data collection involved administering a questionnaire to caregivers, which addressed the children's sociodemographic characteristics and oral hygiene habits. Clinical examinations and the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (SOHI) were also conducted before and after an educational oral health intervention. Results: The study analyzed 58 children with congenital heart disease, of whom 67.2% were girls, with a mean age of 8.2 years; 52.6% self-identified as mixed race. Most caregivers were women with low income (91.4%). Ventricular septal defect was the most prevalent heart condition (25.9%). Regarding oral health, the average number of decayed teeth was 2.4, and 44.8% of the children brushed their teeth three times a day. However, 84.5% did not use dental floss, and 43.1% had inadequate oral hygiene. A significant relationship was observed between caries occurrence and age, as well as between parental education level and hygiene conditions. Conclusion: Oral hygiene guidance was effective in reducing the plaque index among most participants with a history of dental caries, thereby decreasing the risks of bacteremia and infection foci in children with heart disease.

Source: Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Clínica Integrada

DOI: 10.1590/pboci.2026.141