Title: Assessment of Oral hygiene status and Periodontal health of mentally and physically challenged children attending special schools in Riyadh region, KSA
Abstract:
Brief resume of the intended work:
1.Need for the study: Dentists today are becoming more aware of the needs of mentally and physically challenged children, although it has been observed that very few children with these conditions seek the services of dental professionals. However, only few investigations havebeen done to throw light onto the oral condition of these children. A study of the oral condition of these special children is of great importance because these are conditions brought about by the lack of manual dexterity, which can be prevented with proper research and investigations into the field. The purpose of this study is to assess the oral hygiene status and periodontal health of mentally and physically challenged children and to give suggestions for improving their oral health.
2. Review of literature: A study has shown that the need for extractions and complicated restorations was highest in older patients, while the removal of sub- and supragingival calculus was the most common periodontal treatment need.
1. A study has shown that bleeding and calculus components were higher than the healthy components in children suffering from different handicapping conditions studying in various schools in Bombay and almost all the children required treatment in the form of prophylaxis and oral hygiene instructions.
2. A study has shown that oral hygiene in mentally handicapped school children aged 6- 15 years in a Nigerian population was poorer than in normal population.3 A study among 25 institutionalized mentally handicapped school children in Ibadan, Nigeria has shown that none of the children had healthy periodontium and all the children needed oral hygiene care with a significant percentage requiring complex periodontal care. 4 A study has shown that oral hygiene was insufficient in all handicapping conditions studied. 5 3. Objectives of the study:
1) To assess the oral hygiene status of the study group.
2) To assess the periodontal health of the study group.
3) To assess the treatment need and recommend accordingly.
4. Methodology:
4.1 Source of data: The subjects attending the special schools in Riyadh at the time of visit will be selected for the study.
4.2 Clinical Protocol:
1. Subjects will be selected after getting written consent from Parent/ Guardian.
2. Children with sound systemic health will be selected.
3. Children with index teeth not fully erupted will be excluded.
4.3. Method of collection of data: A questionnaire will be designed and standardized, which consists of 2 parts. First part will contain personal information including Medical history, Family history, and Oral hygiene Practices which will be filled by attendants (Parent/ Guardian/ Teacher). And the Second part will have data drawn from clinical examination.
The examination will be carried out at the respective School’s outdoor using direct sunlight as source of light with the aid of mouth mirrors, explorers, and CPITN probes. The Oral Hygiene Status of each child will be assessed using Oral Hygiene Index – Simplified (OHI-S) of Green and Vermillion, (1964). The prevalence of caries will be assessed using dmfs index. The Periodontal Health of each child will be assessed using CPITN index (1982). The data will be entered in Microsoft Excel Sheet and assessed stasistically. No investigations or interventions to be conducted on these kids
