Oral Health Status, Oral Health Care And Dietary Practices Of Special Needs Children
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Date
2011
Authors
Al-Sanabani, Amal Ali Mohammed
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Introduction: Oral health is multifactorial. Children with special health care needs
are at greater risk for poorer oral health than normal children Objectives: This study
aimed to determine the prevalence of dental caries, periodontal disease, oral hygiene
status and oral health care practices and dietary practices and explore its associations
among special needs children. Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study
involved 125 special needs school children in Kota Bharu district. DMFT, CPI and
OHI-S indices were used to evaluate caries experience, periodontal status and oral
hygiene status respectively. Dental examination was done on portable dental chair
with portable light and mobile dental bus equipped with dental chair and lighting.
The oral health care and dietary practices questionnaires were distributed and filled
by parents. SPSS version 18 was used for data entry and analysis. Descriptive
statistics and simple logistic regression was used followed by multiple logistic
regression analysis. Results: Prevalence of caries was 88.0%. About 52.9% of
children had calculus and 33.9% had gingival bleeding. Only 34.4% of children had
good oral hygiene. However, 88.3% of the children reported good oral health care
practices and 51.5% reported good dietary practices. There were no associations
between prevalence of caries, periodontal disease and oral hygiene status with most
socio-demographic factors, reported oral health care practices and dietary practices
except age whereby older children had higher OR of having periodontal disease
(P<0.05). Conclusions: The reported good oral health care and dietary practices does
not necessarily indicate absence of disease or low disease levels.
Description
Keywords
Oral health status, oral health care , dietary practices of special needs children