Oral health and oral motor function in children with cerebral palsy

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the type of cerebral palsy (CP) and oral motor function (OMF) on the oral health status of children and adolescents with CP in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. The sample consisted of 52 children with CP, aged 7 to 18 years. The data were statistically analyzed using chi-square tests. In 73.1% of the sample, the subjects’ caregivers carried out the daily oral care. There was a significant association between the frequency of daily care and the subject's level of oral hygiene (p = .037). A diagnosis of Class II malocclusion was made for 55.8% of the sample, and defects of enamel formation were found in 38.5% of the subjects. There was no significant correlation between DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth) (mean = 1.09 ± 1.64) and socioeconomic status of the subjects (r = .254, p = .069). A significant association was found between quadriplegia and OMF (χ2 = 7.88, p = .019). The type of CP and OMF did not influence the levels of plaque and caries indices in the children with CP, but increased frequency of toothbrushing did result in an improved oral hygiene index.