Comparison of ion concentration in extracted primary molar TEETH of pediatric patients using asthma drug versus healthy children

Dental caries is a multifactorial process. It is affected by factors such as nutrition, oral and dental health habits, and drug use. Elements taken into the body by factors such as nutrition and drug use accumulate in saliva and teeth. While some of these elements provide resistance to caries, some of them make the tooth insensitive to caries. When all these factors and the density of the accumulated elements come together, the future of the teeth in terms of caries is determined. This study aims to evaluate the effects of conditions such as drug use on the susceptibility to dental caries in children with asthma by examining the ion concentration changes in the extracted carious and non-carious primary molar teeth of children using asthma medication and healthy children. In our study, primary molar teeth of patients who applied to Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Pedodontics for tooth extraction were used. The groups were designed as four groups in total, with carious and non-carious teeth in healthy children and children using asthma medication. 40 primary molar teeth, with ten teeth in each group, were included in the study. After obtaining informed consent and consent form from the families or legal guardians of all children, the teeth with an indication for extraction were extracted with anesthetic solutions and techniques routinely applied in our clinic. Extracted teeth were processed and stored in formaldehyde in a glass container. After the extractions were completed, the teeth were ground with a ring grinder at the Karadeniz Technical University Engineering Faculty Mining Engineering Department of Minerals and Coal Processing, with dimensions below 100 microns. The powdered samples were analyzed by a company using the ICP-MS method by outsourcing. Descriptive statistics were given as mean±standard deviation or median, min-max. Kruksal Wallis, Mann Whitney U tests and Bonferroni correction were used for multiple comparisons between groups. Mann Whitney U test was used for pairwise comparisons. Significance level was accepted as p < 0.05. When the relationship between the Pb, Mn, Cu, Sr, Li and S levels we obtained in our study and caries were examined, it was found that Pb, Mn, Cu and S levels increased in the presence of caries, while the levels of Sr and Li decreased in the presence of caries in children using asthma drugs and in healthy children. It was seen that the results obtained for these elements were similar to the results of previous studies. In addition, it was determined that Mo levels increased with the presence of caries, while Al levels were independent of caries. It was determined that the results we obtained for these elements did not match the results in the literature. Sr, Zr and Al levels were found to be higher in children using asthma medication than healthy children, regardless of the presence of caries. It was thought that there was a difference between the metal ion concentrations of the decayed and healthy teeth of children using asthma medication and healthy children, and that this could affect the caries status of the teeth. It was thought that the data obtained could contribute to personalized treatments, which is expected to be one of the most important developments in medicine in the future, by addressing the relationship between asthma drug use-caries-element and may help individuals to easily receive additional recommendations in terms of oral and dental health according to their ailments.