Dental plaque and gingival bleeding in adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and controls: a multilevel analysis

Acta Odontol Scand. 2023 Jan;81(1):50-65. doi: 10.1080/00016357.2022.2078505. Epub 2022 May 30.

Abstract

Objective: To explore whether plaque and gingival bleeding are more frequently experienced by adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) compared to matched controls without JIA; explore whether surface- and site-specific periodontal outcomes vary between the two groups; and for participants with JIA, investigate associations between disease-specific features and periodontal outcomes.

Material and methods: In this comparative cross-sectional study, selected surfaces, and sites of index teeth in 10-16-year-olds with JIA and matched controls were examined by modified versions of Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S) and Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI). Mixed-effects logistic regressions, reporting odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI), were applied. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to quantify the degree of dependency of measures within the same individual.

Results: 144 and 159 adolescents with JIA were evaluated according to OHI-S and GBI; corresponding numbers of controls were 154 and 161. Plaque and gingival bleeding were more frequent in individuals with JIA than controls. Adjusted analyses showed association between JIA status and OHI-S > 0 (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.47 - 3.67, ICC = 0.45) and GBI > 0 (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.10 - 2.16, ICC = 0.41 and 0.30). Surface-specific distribution of plaque varied among the two groups.

Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of increased awareness of oral health care in patients with JIA and that surface- and site-specific differences in periodontal outcomes exist between individuals with JIA and controls. Few JIA disease-specific variables associated with plaque or gingival bleeding.

Keywords: Adolescent; dental plaque; gingival diseases; juvenile idiopathic arthritis; oral health.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Arthritis, Juvenile* / complications
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dental Plaque Index
  • Dental Plaque* / complications
  • Gingival Hemorrhage* / etiology
  • Humans
  • Multilevel Analysis
  • Oral Health