Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

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

The oral health status of Special Olympics athletes in Trinidad and Tobago

Aim: To assess the oral health status of Special Olympics athletes in Trinidad and Tobago (a developing country in the English-speaking Caribbean). Design: A convenience sample of athletes competing in the Trinidad and Tobago Special Olympics Spring Games in 2004. Subjects: A sample of 410 athletes who participated in the Special Olympics Special Smiles Healthy Athletes screening programme. Main outcome measures: A standardised oral exam and screening form were used for the assessment of each athlete. Results: The mean age of the athletes was 18.8 years with a range of 5–58 years; 57% were male and 13% reported having pain in their teeth. The prevalence of untreated molar decay among those who completed the oral exam was high (43.7%). Few participants had filled (9.3%) or sealed teeth (2.9%). Gingival signs were present in 34.6%. Urgent treatment need was found in 27.6%. Compared to Special Olympics athletes in the United States of America (USA), those in Trinidad and Tobago had generally worse oral health. Conclusion: The oral health status of Special Olympics athletes in Trinidad and Tobago suggests the need to develop oral health promotion for people with intellectual disabilities and improve their access to oral healthcare. Key words: Intellectual disability, oral health, West Indies

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£15.00
Page Start
48
Page End
52
Authors
Rahul S Naidu, Tricia Percival, Visha Ramroop, Soorebettu R Prabhu1, Soorebettu R Prabhu1, Steven P Perlman

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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