Growth hormone (GH) is involved in the regulation of the postnatal dental and skeletal growth, but its effects on oral health have not been clearly defined. This paper aims to provide a review of current clinical knowledge of dental caries, tooth wear, developmental enamel defects, craniofacial growth and morphology, dental maturation, and tooth eruption in growth hormone deficient (GHD) children. A systematic review was carried out using Scopus, MEDLINE-EbscoHost and Web of Science from 2000 to May 2021. PRISMA guidelines for reporting systematic reviews were followed. All the selected studies involved groups under eighteen years of age, covering a total of 465 GHD patients. The studies that were selected provide reliable evidence for delayed dental maturity and orthodontic disturbances in GHD patients. Data on dental hard tissues pathology are scarce and are limited to occurrences of dental caries. GHD children showed abnormal craniofacial morphology with reduced mandibular dimensions, with a resulting tendency towards Angle’s Class II occlusion, which affected up to 31% of patients. Dental age has been shown to be delayed in GHD patients by about 1 to 2 years. Moreover, the risk of dental caries in children with GHD decreases with increasing levels of vitamin D. Hence, further studies would be valuable for evaluating the risk of various oral health problems and to organize targeted dental care for this vulnerable group.

Growth hormone is meaningfully involved in the processes of tooth cells differentiation and tissue formation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the occurrence of dental anomalies: microdontia, macrodontia, hypodontia and developmental defects of enamel (DDE) amongst a group of isolated growth hormone deficient (GHD) patients and healthy children. This cross-sectional study was based on a group of 101 Caucasian children: 33 with GHD (mean age 10.94, SD 2.51) and 68 being healthy, normal height subjects (mean age 10.4, SD 2.38). The dental examination in primary and permanent teeth was carried out by one trained and calibrated dentist, in accordance with the WHO guidelines. It was observed that 33% of GHD patients suffer from dental anomalies (hypodontia, microdontia or macrodontia), the difference between the study group and the control group was statistically significant (33% vs 4%, p < 0.001). Hypodontia and microdontia/macrodontia were the most common problems affecting 18% and 21% of the GHD individuals, respectively. The prevalence of DDE did not differ significantly between GHD group and the control group (58% vs 48%, p > 0.05). As children with GHD present more dental anomalies than their healthy coevals, clinicians should be aware of the possible oral health problems associated with GHD and consider dental screening and management as part of the patient’s overall health care plan.

Introduction: Early school-aged children are in a transitional phase from primary to permanent dentition. Established dietary and oral hygiene habits will influence the condition of the oral cavity in the future. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate alterations in early school children’s dietary and oral hygiene practices during the COVID-19 pandemic and to anticipate potential long-term health implications. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional online study involved guardians of Polish children aged 6–10 years, living in Western Poland, who were socially isolated at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 180 guardians were invited to participate in this study. The questionnaire included 17 questions divided into four different sections—the child’s anthropometric data, dietary habits, oral health, and attitude to dental visits. Results: The survey was completed by 106 guardians. The mean (standard deviation) age of the children was 8.12 (0.93) years (range 6–10 years). Overall, 24.5% of the surveyed individuals reported buying healthy products (fresh vegetables, fruit) more frequently during the pandemic. Furthermore, 35.8% admitted to snacking between meals more frequently and 16.0% less frequently. Almost one-quarter of the parents acknowledged that their children were less motivated to maintain oral hygiene during the pandemic and 28.3% declared a lower frequency of visits to the dentist from the outbreak of the pandemic for two main reasons: a fear of coronavirus transmission and economic reasons. Conclusions: In the group studied, the results of the assessment indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic had some effects on oral health that may lead to an increased risk of oral disease development, such as tooth decay in children. None of the respondents noticed an increase in their child’s motivation about good oral hygiene despite spending more time at home. The irregularity of follow-up visits for one-third of the respondents hindered preventive measures and the continuation of dental treatment.

Dental plaque accumulation plays a key role in caries development. This study explored the relationships between dental caries experience, the bacterial composition of dental plaque, and oral health behaviors in children with mixed dentition and fair-to-good oral hygiene, as assessed by the Silness and Löe Plaque Index (PlI). This study included 54 children (6–12 years, mean ± SD = 8 ± 2) from Greater Poland Province. The participants’ parents completed a questionnaire on diet, oral hygiene, and dental care. Two calibrated pediatric dentists performed the dental examinations. Supragingival plaque samples were collected from intact enamel, and bacterial detection was conducted via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among the 54 children, 39 had a history of dental caries (International Caries Detection and Assessment System – Decayed, Missing, and Filled teeth index for permanent and primary dentition, ICDAS-DMF/dmf > 0), 15 were caries-free, and 37 had at least one cavitated lesion, restoration, or extraction (DMF/dmf > 0). Streptococcus mutans was significantly more prevalent in children with ICDAS-DMF/dmf > 0 (p = 0.026) and DMF/dmf > 0 (p = 0.038). Parascardovia denticolens was significantly more prevalent in children with DMF/dmf > 0 (p = 0.027). Children harboring S. mutans and P. denticolens had significantly higher PlI scores (median: 0.5) than did those without these bacteria (median: 0.2) (p = 0.028, p = 0.014). The median intake of cariogenic beverages was greater in children with ICDAS-DMF/dmf > 0 (p = 0.038). A lack of dental visits in the past 12 months was associated with detectable S. mutans (p = 0.021) and Actinomyces viscosus (p = 0.041). Bottle feeding beyond 18 months correlated with the presence of Scardovia wiggsiae (p = 0.028). Nighttime meals or drinks were associated with dental caries experience (p = 0.046) and S. mutans detection (p = 0.016). The strong association of S. mutans with caries, along with the frequent detection of P. denticolens in children with cavitated lesions, highlights the importance of these species as potential targets for preventive strategies. The association of S. wiggsiae with prolonged bottle-feeding might suggest that early feeding behaviors influence microbial colonization. In children with fair-to-good oral hygiene, parental education on nighttime feeding, limiting cariogenic beverages, and promoting regular dental visits remain crucial for caries prevention.