Assessment of Oral Health Status with Visually Impaired Children in Patna City, Bihar

Santosh Anand1, Kumari Kavita2, Amresh Pandey1

  • 1Department of Prosthodontics, Crown, Bridge and Implantology, Patna Dental College and Hospital, Patna, Bihar, India.

Insights

Oral health among visually impaired children in Patna is poor, with high rates of gingival inflammation and dental issues. This highlights a critical need for targeted oral hygiene interventions for this population.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Visually impaired children encounter significant daily challenges, impacting essential self-care skills like oral hygiene.
  • Maintaining oral health is crucial for overall well-being and quality of life in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the oral health status of visually impaired children in Patna.
  • To identify specific oral health challenges faced by this demographic.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a special school in Patna.
  • 180 visually impaired children participated, with parental consent obtained.
  • Oral hygiene practices were recorded by teachers, and oral health was assessed using the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT).

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of gingival inflammation (67%) was observed.
  • 55.2% of children had 1-3 decayed or broken teeth, and 16.1% had unhealthy natural teeth.
  • Significant changes in oral hygiene were noted in 78.7% of participants.

Conclusions:

  • The oral health status of visually impaired children in Patna is alarmingly poor.
  • Gingivitis is prevalent among this population, underscoring the need for improved oral care.
  • Findings emphasize the necessity of tailored oral health programs for visually impaired children.
Abstract

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