Dental caries as a health risk for visual acuity in relation to salivary transforming growth factor beta-1 among students aged 8-10 years: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Dental caries and an impairment in visual acuity (VA) may both be caused by a variety of risk factors. Various conditions of the eye can appear as a consequence of overall inflammation and active dental caries.

AIM

The present study aims to assess dental caries and salivary status by measuring the transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and flow rate between visually impaired students compared with students with normal vision.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Research was performed employing a cross-sectional comparative study design conducted among representative 653 students aged 8-10 years at primary schools in Al-Diwaniyah governorate using the Snellen E chart for measuring VA status. Partitioning the students according to the degree of VA into normal students with normal VA of 6/9 or better and students with visual impairment of 6/12 or worse was done. Sub-sample of 180 students was recruited randomly from both groups, age and gender-matched participants for salivary analysis, and dental caries assessment measured by decay, missed, filled index, according to the World Health Organization in 2013.

RESULTS

Out of 653 students, only 70 students suffer from a decrease in VA. Dental caries was more prevalent in those who had a decrease in VA compared with normal groups. For primary teeth decay, missed, filled teeth index (DMFT/dmft), the result was not significant but highly significant for DMFT/dmft. A significant decrease in salivary flow rate and increased salivary TGF-β1 level among visually impaired students was found.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the current research, the study population that has impaired VA, dental health status has greatly deteriorated.