Evaluation of prevalence of dental caries among patients with migraine headache

Systemic changes and changes in the salivary composition of patients with migraine headaches have already been reported. This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of dental caries in two groups of patients with and without migraine headaches.

In this analytical/cross-sectional study 120 patients aged 15‒65, including 60 migraine patients with at least 5 migraine attacks and 60 normal patients, were selected using convenience sampling technique. DMFT (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth) and OHI-S (Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified) indexes were used to evaluate oral hygiene status. Data were analyzed with SPSS 20 using multi-linear regression, Mann-Whitney test and t-test (α=0.05).

The means of DMFT in subjects with and without migraine were 13.95±5.05 and 4.08±2.53, respectively (p value = 0.001). Mean of OHI-S index in subjects with and without migraine headaches were 0.12±0.19 and 0.10±0.16, respectively (p value = 0.79). Multi-linear regression showed that migraine had a significant effect on the DMFT and OHI-S indexes (p value < 0.001) after correcting for variables such as age, gender, educational status and income. The results also showed that the effect of age on DMFT and OHI-S was significant (p value < 0.001).

Under the limitations of this study, dental caries was more prevalent in migraine patients than normal individuals; however, the OHI-S was similar in the two groups.