Background: Although oral health care is a vital component of overall health, it remains one of the greatest unattended needs among the disabled. The aim of this study was to assess the oral health status and oral healthrelated quality of life (Child-OIDP in 11-13-year-old) of the visually challenged school attendants in Khartoum State, the Sudan. Methods: A school-based survey was conducted in Al-Nour institute [boys (66.3%), boarders (35.9%), and children with partial visual impairment (PVI) (44.6%)]. Two calibrated dentists examined the participants (n=79) using DMFT/dmft, Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S), dental care index, and traumatic dental injuries (TDI) index. Oral health related quality of life (C-OIDP) was administered to 82 schoolchildren. Results: Caries experience was 46.8%. Mean DMFT (age≥12, n=33) was 0.4 ± 0.7 (SiC 1.6), mean dmft (age<12, n=46) was 1.9 ±2.8 (SiC 3.4), mean OHIS 1.3 ± 0.9. Care Index was zero. One fifth of the children suffered TDI (19%). Almost one third (29%) of the 11–13 year old children reported an oral impact on their daily performances. A quarter of the schoolchildren (25.3%) required an urgent treatment need. Analysis showed that children with partial visual impairment (PVI) were 6.3 times (adjusted) more likely to be diagnosed with caries compared to children with complete visual impairment (CVI), and children with caries experience were 1.3 times (unadjusted) more likely to report an oral health related impact on quality of life. Conclusions: Visually impaired schoolchildren are burdened with oral health problems, especially caries. Furthermore, the 11-13 year olds' burden with caries showed a significant impact on their quality of life.

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Oral health of visually impaired schoolchildren in Khartoum State, Sudan

Dental care is consistently reported as one of the primary medical needs of children with disabilities (IDC). The aim of the present study was to explore the influence of oral health behaviors on the caries experience in children with intellectual disabilities in Guangzhou, China. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 477 intellectually disabled children, 12 to 17 years old, who were randomly selected from special educational schools in Guangzhou. A self-administered parental questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics and oral health behavior variables, and 450 valid questionnaires were returned. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the factors associated with dental caries. The average age of those in the sample was 14.6 years (SD = 1.3), 68.4% of whom were male, and the caries prevalence rate was 53.5% (DMFT = 1.5 ± 2.0). The factors significantly affecting the development of dental caries in IDC included gender, the presence or absence of cerebral palsy, and the frequency of dental visits and toothbrushing. In conclusion, the presence of cerebral palsy contributed to an increase risk of caries experience in intellectually disabled children, while toothbrushing more than twice a day and routine dental visits were caries-protective factors. Oral health promotion action may lead to a reduction in dental caries levels in IDC.

Impact of Oral Health Behaviors on Dental Caries in Children with Intellectual Disabilities in Guangzhou, China

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of two brushing techniques - Fone’s method Vs Modified Bass method in visually impaired children using the Audio Tactile Performance (ATP) technique. settings and design: Eighty institutionalised visually impaired children, aged between 4-15 y were randomly selected. Materials and Methods: Baseline plaque scores were recorded using Silness and Loe plaque index. The subjects were then randomly divided into two groups of which, 40 were trained with Fone’s method and and other 40 with Modified Bass method using the ATP technique. Plaque scores were evaluated again after two months. The effectiveness of oral hygiene maintenance in these children were analysed and evaluated statistically. statistical analysis: Data was analysed using Wilcoxon signed rank test and paired t-test. Results: Both Fone’s and Modified Bass method showed reduction in plaque which was statistically significant. There was an increase in the frequency of tooth brushing following training. Conclusion: The Fone’s method and the Modified Bass method of tooth brushing showed a significant improvement in the oral hygiene of visually impaired children when taught using an effective communication tool, the ATP technique.

Comparison of Two Brushing Methods- Fone’s vs Modified Bass Method in Visually Impaired Children Using the Audio Tactile Performance (ATP) Technique

Background: This study explores the association of disabilities and oral health. The aim of the study was to compare and assess oral health status of 12-year-old children with disabilities with healthy controls in Karnataka, Southern India. Methods: A total of 191 schoolchildren with disabilities were examined from 12-year age group. For comparison, 203 healthy children were randomly selected from other government schools. Clinical data were collected on periodontal status, dental caries, treatment needs and dental malocclusion using WHO criteria. A chi-squared test was used to compare between categorical variables. Linear and logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the importance of the factors associated with caries status. Results: Significant differences were noted in the frequency of sugar consumption between subjects with disabilities and their healthy controls. Subjects with disabilities had significantly higher CPI (community periodontal index) scores than their healthy counterparts (p Conclusion: Poor oral health of children with disabilities as compared with their healthy controls in terms of periodontal status, dentition status, treatment needs, and dentofacial anomalies was found in our study, which confirms a need for preventive treatment for these children.

Oral health status of 12-year-old children with disabilities and controls in Southern India.

Visual impairment is an important disability affecting a substantial proportion of people globally. The aim of this study was to assess the oral health status of visually impaired schoolchildren in northeast China, and to investigate the influencing factors. The study was performed in 2015, according to the criteria and methods used in the Third National Oral Health Epidemiological Survey in China. One hundred and three visually impaired schoolchildren from the only special school for the blind in northeast China were included in the study. Oral examinations were performed to assess the caries of deciduous and permanent teeth, periodontal disease, malocclusion. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to investigate oral health-related behaviors, knowledge and attitude about oral care. The overall prevalence of caries was 78.64%, and mean number of caries was 2.43 ± 2.75. The prevalence of caries in deciduous and permanent teeth was 65.22 and 71.84%, respectively. The rates of gingival bleeding and dental calculus were 44.66 and 67.96%, respectively. Malocclusion was observed in 49.51% of the children with visual impairment. The prevalence of caries was significantly higher in girls than boys (P < 0.05). The logistic regression analysis identified the knowledge level of parents and the toothache experience as risk factors for oral health, while the daily use of fluoride toothpaste could reduce the caries incidence. This group of visually impaired schoolchildren exhibited a high prevalence of dental caries, poor periodontal health, and severe malocclusion. Oral health status is relatively poor among visually impaired schoolchildren in northeast China. Factors that significantly affected the prevalence of dental caries included education level of the mother, experience of toothache, and use of fluoride toothpaste.

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Oral health status among visually impaired schoolchildren in Northeast China

Introduction: The epidemiological investigation was carried out among 228 children selected from two schools of similar socioeconomic strata in and around Chennai city. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 128 visually impaired and 100 normal school going children in the age group of 6-15 years. The examination procedure and criteria were those recommended by W.H.O. in 1997. Results: The mean DMFT/deft was 1.1 and 0.17,0.87 and 0.47 in visually impaired and normal children, respectively. Oral hygiene levels in both groups were: mean value in good category was 0.19 and 0.67, in fair category was 0.22 and 0.1, and in poor category 0.40 and 0.23 in visually impaired children and normal children, respectively. Trauma experienced children were 0.29 and 0.13 in visually impaired children and normal children, respectively. Conclusion: The conclusions drawn from this study were that there was a greater prevalence of dental caries, poorer oral hygiene, and higher incidence of trauma in visually impaired children.

Kvkk Reddy

Papers

Prevalence of oral health status in visually impaired children.