Effect of anti-epileptic drugs on the oral health of epileptic children

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the gingival tissue changes caused by anti-epileptic drugs in pediatric patients. The study group included 78 children diagnosed with different types of epilepsy, treated with one or several anti-epileptic drugs for at least 12 months. All the patients underwent periodic dental exams every 6 months. Gingival enlargement was detected in 48.71% of the patients. The mean value of the depth of the gingival pockets measured by means of a periodontal probe in all the patients' dentition was 3 mm. Gingival hyperplasia is a common side effect of anti-epileptic drugs. All the patients that were suffering from oral changes such as hypertrophic gingivitis had been administered either one or several of the classical anti-epileptic drugs. The changes were detected in those treated with several of these drugs, yet they were absent in those treated with new anti-epileptic drugs.