Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate caries experience, oral hygiene, plaque deposition, and gingival health status of a group of Saudi children with obstructive sleep apnea and snoring (OSA). Methods: The sample consisted of 30 OSA and snoring patients (three
to eight years old) and 30 age- and gender-matched controls. Dental caries, oral hygiene, plaque deposition, and gingival health status were assessed. Results: The prevalence of dental caries was 83 percent for the control group and 47 percent for the study group. More than one-third
(37 percent) of the study group had good oral hygiene compared to only one case (three percent) in the control group. The mean plaque accumulation for the study group was (0.78±0.57) and (1.09±0.3) for the control group, while the mean gingival index score was (0.05±0.13)
for the study group and (0.17±0.29) for the control group. Conclusions: Young children suffering from obstructive sleep apnea and snoring have different oral health status compared with nonobstructed control children. OSA subjects had less dental caries, plaque deposition, and
gingival inflammation and better oral hygiene.