The relation between caries activity and hospitalization length in children

Abstract

Dental caries affects the well-being and quality of life of children and their families. Untreated carious lesions may led to infections and hospitalization. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of untreated carious lesions on the recovery period of children hospitalized due to childhood diseases at Barzilai Medical University Center in Ashkelon, Israel. The oral condition of 159 children, 77 boys and 82 girls, hospitalized in the pediatric department, due to various childhood diseases, was determined after the routine morning examination, after informed consent was obtained from the parents. Routine tests results at hospitalization and length of hospitalization in days were recorded after the children were released from the department. Statistical analyses were performed in order to determine the main factors affecting hospitalization length. The main statistically significant factor (P<0.05) was presence of carious lesion. The results showed that carious activity may affect the recovery time of children and the length of hospitalization. Reducing the hospitalization time of children will affect the financial burden on the health department and on the family of the hospitalized children.