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. 2025 Jul;40(7):2287-2293.
doi: 10.1007/s00467-025-06698-1. Epub 2025 Feb 4.

Oral health status in children with chronic kidney disease, kidney transplantation, and nephrotic syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Anna Beyer  1 , Fabian Ebach  2 , Heiko Reutter  3 , Katja Sauerstein  4 , Alina Christine Hilger  4 , Tobias Krickau  4 , Anja Tzschoppe  4 , Joachim Woelfe  4 , Matthias Galiano  4 , Jan Thomas Schaefer  4
Affiliations

Oral health status in children with chronic kidney disease, kidney transplantation, and nephrotic syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Anna Beyer et al. Pediatr Nephrol. 2025 Jul.

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been previously associated with a decline in oral health. This study aimed to examine the oral health of children with CKD, nephrotic syndrome (NS), and children that received kidney transplantation (KTR).

Methods: A case-control study was conducted involving children with CKD stages 1-3, children with CKD stages 4-5, pediatric kidney transplant recipients, and children with NS. Developmental Defects of Enamel (DDE) were evaluated using the DDE Index, while dental caries was assessed with the Decayed Missing Filled Teeth Index (DMFT). Plaque and debris were measured utilizing the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S), which includes the two subindices Simplified Calculus Index (CI-S) and Simplified Debris Index (DI-S).

Results: Children with CKD 1-3, CKD 4-5, and KTR presented with significantly higher DI-S and CI-S scores and significantly more DDE. There was no difference in the DMFT score in children with CKD 4-5 and KTR. For children with CKD 1-3, a significantly lower DMFT score was observed compared to the control group. Children with NS did not show any differences for DI-S, CI-S, DMFT, and DDE compared to healthy peers.

Conclusion: Oral health status is not affected in children with NS. Children with CKD 1-3, CKD 4-5, and KTR have more plaque, debris, and DDE and should be surveyed regularly by their dentists.

Keywords: Chronic kidney disease; DDE; DMFT; Kidney transplant recipients; Nephrotic syndrome; OHI-S.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Disclosures: Nothing to disclose.

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