Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
April 2006
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Electronic ISSN:
1754-2758
Vol:
7
Issue:
1

Oral health findings in a group of Greek schoolchildren with mild intellectual impairment

Aim: To describe the oral health condition and the need for dental and periodontal treatment in children with mild mental impairment. Information was gathered concerning family characteristics and the oral hygiene and dietary habits of the children. The influence of these factors on the oral health condition of the children was evaluated using a statistical model. Material and methods: The sample was a convenience sample selected from eight special schools in the greater Athens area. The children were clinically examined in a mobile dental unit and the following parameters were assessed: periodontal condition, caries experience and past dental treatment. Results: The participants comprised 171 students (114 boys and 57 girls) with mild mental impairment and a mean age of 11.46 years (SD: 1.92). The results for the provision of dental treatment index showed that only 8.39% (SD: 24.76%) of carious permanent tooth surfaces were treated. The picture was similar for the primary dentition. The multiple linear regression analysis showed that lack of tooth brushing and frequent daily sugar consumption influence negatively the periodontal and dental condition of the children, respectively. The index for periodontal treatment need showed that scaling and root planning was necessary for 41.44% of the children examined while only one child had a healthy periodontium. Conclusions: It seems that the absence of motor impairment in the children made parents and teachers believe that their children could be trusted to perform oral hygiene, which was shown clinically not to be the case. Programmes of oral health education addressed to parents, teachers and children are necessary. Key words: Mild mental impairment, caries, periodontal disease, oral health education programme

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£15.00
Page Start
3
Page End
9
Authors
Lisa Papagiannoulis, William Papaioannou, Sotiria Gizani

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial - Special Care Dentistry – a reality
  2. 2
  3. 2

  1. Oral health findings in a group of Greek schoolchildren with mild intellectual impairment
  2. 3
  3. 9

  1. A comparison of the effectiveness of chlorhexidine varnish, fluoride varnish and fluoride gel in children with intellectual disability
  2. 10
  3. 16

  1. Feeding habits of children with Down syndrome living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  2. 17
  3. 21

  1. An approach to the restoration of fractured anterior teeth in adolescents with intellectual impairment
  2. 25
  3. 28

  1. The use of hypnosis and systematic desensitisation in the management of dental phobia: a case report
  2. 29
  3. 34

  1. Mortality after full mouth rehabilitation under general anesthesia for a child with Tetralogy of Fallot: report of a case
  2. 35
  3. 42

  1. Oral hygiene status and behaviour of the special needs children in Lahore, Pakistan
  2. 43
  3. 47

  1. The oral health status of Special Olympics athletes in Trinidad and Tobago
  2. 48
  3. 52

  1. The dental management of a patient with erythromelalgia: a case report
  2. 53
  3. 54

  1. BSDH News
  2. 55
  3. 55

  1. Addendum
  2. 56
  3. 56

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