IADR Abstract Archives
Dental Decay and Oral Hygiene of Deaf-mute Children in Zhengzhou
Objectives: To investigate dental decay and oral hygiene status, as well as oral health knowledge and behaviors of deaf-mute children in Zhengzhou city of central China.
Methods: Clinical oral examination was carried out in the school to record the dental decay and oral hygiene status. Questionnaires were used to assess the related oral health knowledge and habits of the children and their teachers.
Results: A total of 172 deaf-mute children aged 6-18 years in a special care school was recruited. Mean age of them was 14.06 years. A total of 102 boys (mean age 13.90 years) and 70 girls (mean age 14.30 years) were recruited. Among 54 deaf-mute children aged 6-12 years, prevalence of dental decay was 59.26% (dmft/DMFT =1.83). Caries prevalence for deciduous teeth was 66.67% (dmft=1.09 ), for permanent teeth was 27.78% (DMFT=0.74), and for the first permanent molars was 22.22% in the above age group. Among 118 children aged 13-18 years, caries prevalence was 33.90% (DMFT=1.02). Coverage rate of pit and fissure sealing was 47.67% in the deaf-mute children. Bleeding on probing was found in 62.20% and dental calculus was found in 70.30% of the children. Questionnaire investigation found that less than 1/5th of the children adopted suggested method to brush and less than half brushed teeth twice a day, only 13% of the children knowing some etiology of dental decay. Percentage of teachers with good oral health knowledge was high, but seldom any oral health education program or class was provided to the children.
Conclusions: Prevalence of caries in deaf-mute children was at comparable level with normal child population in Henan Province, while prevalence of gingivitis and dental calculus was relatively high, accompanied by poor oral health knowledge & habits and lack of oral health education program in this group of children.
Methods: Clinical oral examination was carried out in the school to record the dental decay and oral hygiene status. Questionnaires were used to assess the related oral health knowledge and habits of the children and their teachers.
Results: A total of 172 deaf-mute children aged 6-18 years in a special care school was recruited. Mean age of them was 14.06 years. A total of 102 boys (mean age 13.90 years) and 70 girls (mean age 14.30 years) were recruited. Among 54 deaf-mute children aged 6-12 years, prevalence of dental decay was 59.26% (dmft/DMFT =1.83). Caries prevalence for deciduous teeth was 66.67% (dmft=1.09 ), for permanent teeth was 27.78% (DMFT=0.74), and for the first permanent molars was 22.22% in the above age group. Among 118 children aged 13-18 years, caries prevalence was 33.90% (DMFT=1.02). Coverage rate of pit and fissure sealing was 47.67% in the deaf-mute children. Bleeding on probing was found in 62.20% and dental calculus was found in 70.30% of the children. Questionnaire investigation found that less than 1/5th of the children adopted suggested method to brush and less than half brushed teeth twice a day, only 13% of the children knowing some etiology of dental decay. Percentage of teachers with good oral health knowledge was high, but seldom any oral health education program or class was provided to the children.
Conclusions: Prevalence of caries in deaf-mute children was at comparable level with normal child population in Henan Province, while prevalence of gingivitis and dental calculus was relatively high, accompanied by poor oral health knowledge & habits and lack of oral health education program in this group of children.