Abstract:
Introduction: This paper seeks to assess the peculiarities of education of correct tooth brushing technique in children with mental retardation.
Purpose of work: assess the efficiency in the education of correct tooth brushing technique of children with different degrees of mental retardation.
Material and methods:
The study included 82 children aged 7-17 years, institutionalized in auxiliary schools.
Group I covered 31 children with mild mental retardation (IQ 50-69*),
Group II comprised 28 children with moderate mental retardation (IQ 35-49*),
Group III represented 23 children with severe mental retardation (IQ 20-34*)
*ICD-10, World Health Organization, 1992.
The control group was constituted of 121 healthy children.
The working method included examination, and recording of data in individual prophylaxis sheets.
Carious experience was evaluated by estimating the prevalence index and the COA index. Oral hygiene
was assessed according to OHI-S 1964 index, G.Green, I.Vermillion, 1964, and the approximale plaque
index by Lange, 1975 (API) at an interval of 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month and 3 months. Health education
for children in the form of play was performed at group, micro-group (3-5 children) and individual level;
the educational methods were adapted to the age, intellectual development and educational, behavioral,
and individual features of children. There has been developed and applied a series of audio-visual material and educational methods for medical and sanitary training of children. Illustrative material was used
to ease the process of childrens learning of correct brushing technique. Repeated, guided and supported,
sessions were conducted for tooth brushing.
Outcomes: The prevalence index of dental caries falls within 83.24-93.45% limits, and the intensity
of caries varies from 3.98 to 5.17 for COA index. Poor brushing was noted with all children in the study
groups and with 85.95% children in the control group.
Conclusions: The study found that institutionalized children have high morbidity of dental caries,
with multiple treatment needs. Children with moderate and particularly with severe mental retardation
have limited ability to independently perform tooth brushing and need help from staff in cleaning the
oral cavity.
