Risk factors for oral changes in children with epilepsy: Informative article

Abstract

Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in people of all ages. Based on the data regarding the prevalence of epilepsy in other countries, about 12,000 individuals under the age of 18 are estimated to suffer from active epilepsy. Children with epilepsy are a high risk group for oral diseases primarily due to psychiatric and psycho-social consequences of the primary disorder as well as the adverse effects of anti-epileptic therapy. Due to the primary disorder, children with epilepsy have reduced motivation for a number of activities, reduced mental and physical abilities, neglected social contacts, more difficult adoption of knowledge, skills, positive attitudes and behavior as well as general and oral healthcare. In children with epilepsy, there is an additional risk for oral diseases due to the adverse effects of anti-epileptic therapy such as gingival hyperplasia. Studies in other countries and in Serbia showed higher prevalence and frequency of oral diseases compared to the control group of healthy children of the same age. This paper emphasizes the need for dental educational work with children with epilepsy and their parents as well as doctors who treat the primary disorder.