Low prevalence of dental caries in children with perinatal HIV infection

AIM AND OBJECTIVE The objective is to assess the prevalence of caries in children with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS Oral examination was performed on children aged 2-12 years with perinatal HIV infection who stayed at 'Calvary Chapel home of hope for special children' to assess decayed, missing, or filled primary teeth/decayed, missing, or filled permanent teeth (dmft/DMFT). RESULTS Prevalence of tooth decay in primary teeth (dmft) for the age group 2-6 years was 57.15% and 7-12 years was 20.0%. Prevalence of tooth decay in permanent teeth (DMFT), for the age group 7-8 years was 16.60% and 10-12 years was 21.42%. Of the 27 children examined, 59.25% were caries free, in which 40.0% were male children and 70.58% were female children. CONCLUSION Based on these results we can conclude that oral hygiene can be maintained with a favorable dental behavior.