Background: Renal diseases involve multiple organs including the soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity.
Objective: The objective of this study was to explore oral health status in pediatric patients with renal diseases at Srinagarind
Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
Material and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and August 2013, at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University. Ninety-seven pediatric patients with renal diseases were allowed by their parents to participate in this study. Data were collected from medical records, questionnaires and oral examination records. The oral health status was recorded using the Decay, missing and filling teeth index, Plaque index, Calculus index, Modifies gingival index, Developmental defects of enamel index and Gingival enlargement index. An oral examination was conducted using a mouth mirror, explorer and periodontal probe.
Results: The average age of the pediatric patients with renal diseases was 11.53+3.7 years (ranged 4-17 years). The majority of subjects were able to (a) brush their teeth twice a day (77.3%), (b) visit dentists only when they had any symptoms (79.4%) and (c) never visit dentists for previous six months (73.2%). The prevalence rate of dental caries was 78.4%. Decay, missing and filling of deciduous teeth (dmft) were 1.6+3.1 teeth/person. Decay, missing and filling of permanent teeth (DMFT) were 1.7+2.5 teeth/person. The average value of plaque index was 1.4+0.6. The average value of calculus index was 0.3+0.4. The average value of modified gingival index was 1.3+0.4. The prevalence rate of enamel defect and gingival enlargement were 27.8% and 16.5%, respectively.
Conclusion: The most common oral health problem of these pediatric patients was dental caries. The majority of subjects had visited dentists only when they had symptoms and never visited dentists for the past six months.

Keywords: Enamel defect, Gingival enlargement, Pediatric patients, Kidney disease