Oral Health Status and Special Health Care Needs of Disabled Individuals Attending Special School, Vientiane Capital

Abstract

The purpose of this study to describe the prevalence of dental caries and the oral hygiene status of disabled individuals attending Special School. Methods: Participants who were attending a special school, the survey document included questionnaire and consent form, both was sent to school principal, teachers and parents. The parents were asked, to completed a questionnaire. Dental caries examinations were carried out in accordance with WHO criteria in the school field and oral cleanliness was evaluated by visually assessing the presence of plaque on teeth. Results: Total number of participants in this study were 127 children, mean age was 13.97±3.68. The prevalence of oral health status reported 74% of children had caries experiences, Pulpitis, Ulceration, Fistula, Abscess index (PUFA) reported 21%. The mean of untreated caries (DT) was 2.09±2.09 for deafness, mean DT was 2.54±2.44 for mental, mean DT was 2.66±1.94 for blind respectively, there was no significant difference, statistically between type of disabilities. Severe dental caries were reported high in Down’s syndrome. 1.50±2.12 reported abscess in children. Then in other type of children. There was a statistically significant between disable children (p=.001). 70% children report fair oral hygiene of mild plaque and severe plaque attached on the tooth surface. This study invested that half of disable children (54%) needed dental treatment and 24% of children need urgent treatment because of tooth pain and abscess. Conclusions: Among the children with disabilities, more attention should be paid to the oral hygiene and provide dental treatment programs for disability children.