الفهرس 
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Abstract
Aim: The present study was designed to assess the oral and dental condition in a group of Egyptian children suffering from bronchial asthma in terms of salivary pH and dental caries pattern using DMFs/defs index. And, assessment of the anti-asthmatic medications taken by those children (Aironyl and Apidone) in terms of pH and total sugar content of the drug.
Material and methods: This study was conducted on 60 children aged from 6-12 years divided into two groups (30 asthmatics, 30 asthmatic-free). group (A); The asthmatic children were selected from the Asthma and Allergy Outpatients Clinic of Abu El-Reesh Japanese Hospital for kids, While group (B);The asthmatic-free children were selected from the Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health Department of Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University. A chart used to record history of the asthma (Duration, Dose, and Frequency of Drug Administration), snacking habits, frequency of tooth brushing, score of salivary pH and caries surface index. All children were examined clinically for dental caries by using dental mirrors and dental explorer under day light conditions with the aid of light cure fiber optic transillumination. Dental caries surface index was measured using DMFs/defs index. The saliva samples were collected for measuring salivary pH using digital pH electrode meter.
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Results: The asthmatic group had a significantly higher value regarding (defs) than the control group (p<0.001). Concerning the pH value, the asthmatic group had a significantly lower value than the control group (p<0.001(.But there was no significant difference between both groups regarding DMFs (p=0.260). Both drugs under investigation (Apidone and Aironyl) are acidic where their pH values are 5.3 and 5.1 respectively. While,the total sugar content of Apidone is much higher than that of Aironyl as the values are 17g% and 0.5g% respectively.
Conclusions: Asthmatic children have more caries experience than healthy controls. Salivary pH value is less in asthmatics than healthy one. Drug frequency intake is the most influencing factor affecting the dental caries pattern and the salivary pH than the dose of the drug or duration of drug intake.