Journal of Disability and Oral Health
- Cover Date:
- June 2011
- Print ISSN:
- 1470-8558
- Vol:
- 12
- Issue:
- 2
Comparative oral health of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy and controls
Objective: To determine the oral health condition of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) and compare with controls of the same gender and age group. Method: Participants in this study were children and young adults with CP attending three, day institutions for individuals with disabilities. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on their bio-data, such as age, gender and educational background of parents. An oral examination was then carried out to assess dental caries, oral hygiene status, gingivitis, malocclusion and other dental anomalies. They were compared with controls of the same age and gender who attended primary and secondary schools in the same area. Results: 139 subjects aged 4-19 years (mean 11.38 ± 4.36), comprising 69 (49.6%) subjects with CP, 70 (50.4%) controls; 52 (37.4%) females and 87 (62.6%) males participated in the study. The mean dmft and DMFT of the CP group was 1.03 ± 2.5 and 1.3 ± 2.94, respectively whilst that of controls was 0.21 ±0.65 and 0.13 ±0.47, respectively. Oral hygiene was good in 36.2% of CP and 68.6% of controls, and poor in 29.0% of CP group compared with 11.4% of controls (p=0.00). Angle’s Class II malocclusion was found in 19 (27.5%) of the CP group and 1 (1.4%) of the controls (p=0.00). Seven (10.1%) of the CP group had fractured teeth while crowding, spacing of the anterior segment and gingivitis were more prevalent in the CP group. Conclusion: Individuals with CP have poorer oral health than controls and are not provided with needed oral health care.
Key words: Cerebral palsy, oral health, children, adolescents
- Article Price
- £15.00
- Institution Article Price
- £
- Page Start
- 81
- Page End
- 87
- Authors
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