Association of Dental caries with difference in Leucocyte count
Aishwarya Maganti1, Sai Sailesh Kumar Goothy2, Srilatha Goothy3, Dr. Gautami S Penumatsa4, Ravikanth Manyam5
1Third Year BDS Student, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh.
2Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, R.D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India
3Assistant Professor, Department of Bio-Chemistry, R.D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India
4Professor, Department of Periodontics, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, West Godavari District,
Andhra Pradesh.
5Professor & Head, Department of Oral Pathology, Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram,
West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh.
*Corresponding Author E-mail: dr.saisailesh@gmail.com
ABSTRACT:
Objective: The present study was taken up to establish the association of leucocyte count with dental caries. Materials and methods: A total of 100 young adults, (50 male and 50 female), were recruited in the study after obtaining the written informed consent from the participants. Dental caries was assessed following the guidelines of International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). Differential leucocyte count was performed using Leishman’s stain manually following the standard guidelines available in the literature. Results: There was negative correlation between the dental caries and the neutrophil count. Positive correlation was observed between the dental caries and eosinophil, monocyte, lymphocyte and basophil counts. Conclusion: The study recommends the need for further detailed studies to understand the association between these two variables possibly to use the DLC as a nearly diagnostic as well as a prognostic method for dental caries management.
KEYWORDS: Dental caries. White blood cells, young adults.
INTRODUCTION:
The primary reason for the oral pain and loss of tooth is Dental caries, known to be one the common disease yet, preventable. Dental caries is considered to be a major public healthoral disease as quoted by WHO[1], wherein the problem is persisting globally despite the efforts taken up to improvise the oral health. It had also stated that poor oral health may have an effect on general health, affect the quality of life and may also lead to various chronic oral diseases too[2].
Dental caries may further lead to periodontitis, deteriorating The systemic conditions which could be due to leucocyte alterations, the first line of host-defense mechanism activated against ineffective against. The synthesis of leucocyte occurs in bone marrow further reaches different tissues through blood. The normal range of leucocytes in blood is 4.5000 to 10.000cells/mm[3]. Imbalances occur between the synthesis and elimination of leucocytes in bone marrow and through phagocytosis processes respectively leading to alterations in leucocyte count. There are various factors causing the modification in leucopoiesis further leading to the alterations in the leucocyte number, may even lead to tumoral alterations in the white blood cells. These condition is observed in lymphomas, leukemia’s, plasma cell tumors, etc;. There are a wide range of clinical manifestations those ranging from simple to life threatening conditions could be drived by assessing the oral hygiene status. It is learnt that oral manifestation may be the initial sign for many systemic diseases. In the present scenario, many researchers globally are focusing on the role of oral health and its underlying association with systemic diseases[3]. Recent researches in this area demonstrated that there is possibility of increased systemic responses of inflammatory mediators in the peripheral blood as reports in periodontitis and may also lead to the increase in leucocyte count[4]. The present study was taken up to establish the association of leucocyte count with dental caries.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Study design:
Cross-sectional study
Study setting:
The present study was conducted at Vishnu Dental College, Bhimavaram, west Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh.
Study participants:
A total of 100 young adults, (50 male and 50 female), were recruited in the study after obtaining the written informed consent from the participants. The following is the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the selection of the participants.
Inclusion and exclusion criteria:
Male and female participants within the age group of 18-24. Willing participants were part of the study.
Exclusion criteria:
Participants having any serious disease or under treatment were excluded from the study.
Assessment of dental caries:
Dental caries was assessed following the guidelines of International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS)[5].
Differential leucocyte count:
Differential leucocyte count was performed using Leishman’s stain manually following the standard guidelines available in the literature[6].
Data analysis:
Data was assessed by using SPSS20.0. Pearson Correlation coefficient was used to observe the correlation between the variables.
RESULTS:
There was negative correlation between the dental caries and the neutrophil count. Positive correlation was observed between the dental caries and eosinophil, monocyte, lymphocyte and basophil counts (Table No 1).
Table no 1: Association between the dental caries and Differential Leucocyte Count (DLC). (N- Neutrophil, E-Eosinophil, B-Basophil, M-Monoyte, L-Lymphocyte).
|
Dental Caries |
Type of WBC |
R value |
|
1.14±0.19 |
N- 63.95±1.40 |
-0.3827 |
|
E- 1.71±0.26 |
0.4363 |
|
|
B- 0.10±0.10 |
0.2301 |
|
|
L- 30.48±1.17 |
0.1807 |
|
|
M- 4.45±0.47 |
0.3776 |
DISCUSSION:
Dental caries appears to be a major public health problem which if left untreated can cause ample pain, discomfort and economic burden as the treatment costs are very high. The first line of defense against host cell, the major cellular elements of immune and inflammatory reactions of the organism are leucocytes. Studies stated that poor oral hygiene may have an associated with various systemic diseases. A thorough review of literature revealed that there are no studies where the association was observed between the dental caries and DLC. Negative correlation was observed between the neutrophil count and dental caries whereas positive correlation was observed between the dental caries and basophil, lymphocyte, monocyte and eosinophil count. Usually the dysfunctions of neutrophils are associated with defects in hereditary intrinsic cells. At times it might be due to the effects caused by extrinsic etiological factors like diabetes, drugs and infections. In dentistry, the assessment of white blood cells is having immense importance as it is closely associated with conditions like dental caries and dental infections [7]. Complete blood count was performed in the field of dentistry to assess patient condition, diagnosis and management of orofacial conditions, to assess the ability of the patient to tolerate the dental treatment and prognostic purpose.
Decrease in the chemotacic activity of neutrophils was reported in juvenile periodontitis[8]. It was reported that neutrophils has a role in the dental caries. They cause the bacteria to release the acidic contents that potentially cause the dental caries. Further, the neutrophils were reported to degrade the demineralized dentin and contribute to the development of caries. In the present study, there was a negative correlation between the neutrophil count and the dental caries. Where as positive correlation was observed between the dental caries and basophils and eosinophils. Decrease in the lymphocyte count was reported to increase the prevalence of dental caries[9]. Further, endodontic infections was reported to alter the leucoyte count and effect the systemic health [10]. In the present study, there was positive correlation between the dental caries with lymphocyte and monocyte count.
CONCLUSION:
Dental caries score showed negative correlation with neutrophil count and positive correlation with other leucocytes. The study recommends the need for further detailed studies to understand the association between these two variables possibly to use the DLC as a nearly diagnostic as well as a prognostic method for dental caries management.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Our sincere thanks to DR A V Rama Raju Garu, Vice Principal of Vishnu Dental College for his constant support and encouragement.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:
None declared.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Self-funding.
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Received on 26.06.2019 Modified on 24.07.2019
Accepted on 03.09.2019 © RJPT All right reserved
Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2020; 13(2):621-623.
DOI: 10.5958/0974-360X.2020.00117.1