Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
October 2001
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Electronic ISSN:
1754-2758
Vol:
2
Issue:
2

The oral health and treatment needs of adults with a learning disability living in private households in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, London

Aim: To describe the oral and dental health and treatment need of adults with a learning disability living in private households in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Authority, London. Objective: To describe levels of oral hygiene, periodontal health, caries experience and normative need for restorative, prosthetic and exodontia treatment. Design: Clinical survey. Setting: Private households in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Health Authority. Subjects: Adults with a learning disability registered with Social Services in these districts and living in private households. Main outcome measures: Caries and treatment experience (DMFT index), proportion of adults with 18 or more sound untreated teeth, proportion edentulous, periodontal health, denture wearing and restorative, exodontia and prosthetic need. Results: Two hundred and seventeen participants were examined. Mean DMFT was 11.2. Fifty six participants (27 per cent of dentate subjects) had one or more teeth with active decay. The prevalence of plaque, calculus and gingivitis was high. Participants had better oral health than the general population in terms of caries experience and presence of sound untreated teeth but showed a trend towards greater edentulousness in the older age groups. Beyond the need for improved oral hygiene, the greatest need was for simple restorations and prosthetic treatment. Conclusion: Adults with a learning disability who live in private households appear to have better dental clinical status than the general population but have fewer teeth. The main treatment needs identified were for simple restorative or prosthetic care. Key words: Learning disability, epidemiology, treatment need

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£15.00
Page Start
78
Page End
82
Authors
S Gelbier, Peter G. Robinson, P Pratelli, Rahul S Naidu

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial
  2. 50
  3. 50

  1. The effect of topical metronidazole therapy and controlled oral hygiene procedures on periodontal disease in patients with Down syndrome – a clinical interventional study
  2. 54
  3. 62

  1. Day stay service for special needs patients requiring restorative dentistry – an audit of non attendance
  2. 63
  3. 65

  1. An assessment of appropriate mode of treatment for children with special needs
  2. 66
  3. 70

  1. Development of an undergraduate curriculum in special care dentistry
  2. 71
  3. 77

  1. The oral health and treatment needs of adults with a learning disability living in private households in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham, London
  2. 78
  3. 82

  1. Letters to the Editor
  2. 83
  3. 84

  1. BSDH News
  2. 85
  3. 96

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