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Research Journal of Medical Sciences

ISSN: Online 1993-6095
ISSN: Print 1815-9346
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Prevalence of Dental Caries and Traumatic Injuries of Teeth in Children with Special Health Care Needs In And Around Tirupathi City

K. Veera Kishore Kumar Reddy, N. Swapna Priya, N. S. Vidya, O. Sridhar Babu, S. N. Lakshmi Sravya and Karimaddela Keerthinmayee
Page: 525-531 | Received 30 Oct 2023, Published online: 30 Dec 2023

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https://doi.org/10.36478/10.59218/makrjms.2023.12.525.531

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Abstract

Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) are those who have a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working. Handicapped children are unable to maintain a perfect oral hygiene and so they have high prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease. The prevalence of dental caries is generally considered to be similar to that of the population at large but the proportion of the untreated tooth decay is higher, indicating dental neglect. One of the first steps towards the planning of dental services is to obtain up to date information on the prevalence and incidence of dental diseases. Hence the current study is aimed to assess the prevalence of dental caries and frequency of fracture anterior teeth in persons/children with special health care needs and to compare the achieved data from these parameters with that from the group of normal children. The study was done in 545 handicapped children of age group 3‐15 years and a control population consisted of 103 normal children of same age group. Prior consent was obtained from the respective school authorities and from the parents/guardians through the schools to conduct the study. The oral cavity examination was done by a single investigator using mouth mirror and Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) probe for dental caries. The prevalence of fracture anterior teeth was assessed in both the groups (controlled and CSHCN group). The incidence of fracture anterior teeth was recorded using Ellis and Davis classification. Data for each subject were recorded on a specially designed proforma, exclusively designed for recording all the required and relevant information.. The examination for dental caries was made according to the WHO criteria (1997). The levels of oral hygiene of children with special health care need are significantly poorer than normal children. The caries experience among this school population with disabilities is clearly higher than among the respective age groups of normal schoolchildren.Caries experience is highest in subjects with hearing impairment and least in visually impaired children in primary dentition. Caries experience among 6‐12 year age group was high in physically handicapped and least in visually impaired children. Caries experience among permanent dentition was high in medically compromised and least in hearing impaired children. Traumatic injuries are more prevalent among these subjects with disabilities than among the healthy population. The highest incidences of traumatic experience were the physically handicapped and lowest in visually impaired children. The oral health of these children is poor and a majority of the children in the study are in need of specific dental care. Like other oral health conditions, traumatic dental injuries are preventable and preventive measures can only be applied when factors that contribute to the injuries have been identified. So, providing comprehensive dental care for these children with special health care (CSHCN) is not only rewarding but also a community service that health care providers are obligated to fulfill. Comprehensive dental care, Decayed‐Missing‐Filled Tooth Index, Tooth injuries, visually impaired person, children with special health care (CSHCN).

How to cite this article:

K. Veera Kishore Kumar Reddy, N. Swapna Priya, N. S. Vidya, O. Sridhar Babu, S. N. Lakshmi Sravya and Karimaddela Keerthinmayee. Prevalence of Dental Caries and Traumatic Injuries of Teeth in Children with Special Health Care Needs In And Around Tirupathi City.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.59218/makrjms.2023.12.525.531
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.59218/makrjms.2023.12.525.531