Cystic fibrosis: Prevalence of dental caries

Investigators have examined the prevalence of dental caries in patients with cystic fibrosis.

In a systematic review published in the Journal of Dentistry, the investigators used the Embase, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, Medline Ebsco and Cochrane Library databases to identify 21 studies reporting on dental outcomes in patients with and without cystic fibrosis.

The investigators found that the pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis had a lower rate of dental caries compared with those without the condition in 14 of the studies included for review, whereas in five of the studies, adult patients with cystic fibrosis experienced a higher rate of dental caries compared with those without the condition. Two of the studies had inconclusive findings on the relationship between cystic fibrosis status and dental caries.

The investigators stressed that clinicians should personalize treatment strategies in adult patients with cystic fibrosis. They concluded that more studies may be needed to better understand the prevalence of dental caries in the adult population.

Read more: Journal of Dentistry

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