Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
August 2007
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Electronic ISSN:
1754-2758
Vol:
8
Issue:
2

Descriptive study of factors modifying the periodontal status of a population of people with a learning disability in Spain

Objectives: To evaluate, for institutionalised people with a learning disability: their periodontal status, periodontal treatment needs, the influence of social and demographical factors, behaviour, dental maintenance and malocclusions on their periodontal state. Subjects: 143 adults (17.5±3.5 years) with a learning disability in residential care. Design: Data were recorded relating to age, gender, illness, difficulties in behavioural management, residential status (resident/non-resident), previous contacts with dentists, and oral hygiene. The Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN), periodontal treatment needs (TN) and malocclusion (WHO: 0, 1 and 2), were registered in accordance with the criteria of the World Health Organisation (WHO). Results: 24.3% had a congenital learning disability and 20.8% were diagnosed with Down syndrome. 79.0% of subjects were non-resident; 77.6% had a dental management issue; for 61.1% it was their first dentist contact; 41.9% brushed their own teeth. For malocclusion; 10.5% had none, 15.4% had mild and 74.1% moderate/advanced. For periodontal health; 4.2% had good health, 4.1% had bleeding, 59% calculus, 25.7% moderate pockets and 7% deep pockets. None of the patients was totally edentulous. Periodontal disease increased with age (p<0.001) and women had better periodontal health (p<0.01). Patients who had their teeth brushed by their carers had better periodontal health (p<0.05). 4.2% require no treatment, 95.1% required instruction in oral hygiene, 91% instruction and calculus removal; 6.3% advanced periodontal treatment. Treatment needs increased with age (p<0.001), with difficulty in management (p<0.001), and whether they brushed their own teeth (p<0.05). Conclusions: A high level of mild/moderate periodontal disease was observed in the sample. This increased with age, with the presence of malocclusions and with unsupervised brushing. Key words: CPITN, disabled patients, handicap, periodontal treatment needs, periodontal status

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£15.00
Page Start
73
Page End
80
Authors
Guillermo Machuca, Antonio F Sánchez, Carmen Machuca, Pedro Bullón

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial - Pushing Boundaries
  2. 50
  3. 50

  1. Referral patterns and access to dental services of people affected by homelessness in Dublin, Ireland
  2. 51
  3. 56

  1. An audit of patient assessment and treatment outcomes in anxious patients referred for conscious sedation
  2. 57
  3. 62

  1. Barriers to oral health care access among socially vulnerable groups: a qualitative study
  2. 63
  3. 69

  1. Descriptive study of factors modifying the periodontal status of a population of people with a learning disability in Spain
  2. 73
  3. 80

  1. The value of training doctors in the diagnosis of oral manifestations of HIV
  2. 81
  3. 85

  1. Student evaluation of clinical outreach teaching in Community Special Care Dentistry
  2. 86
  3. 90

  1. Preaxial acrofacial dysostosis (Nager syndrome): a case report
  2. 91
  3. 94

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