Oral health status of preschool children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Background: Children with cerebral palsy often experience movement disorders that may present either independently or in combination, contingent upon the specific areas of the brain that are affected. The nature and severity of these movement disorders can significantly impede a child’s ability to engage in essential daily activities, such as walking, speaking, eating, dressing, bathing, and maintaining personal hygiene, including tooth brushing. Consequently, the child’s oral health and hygiene often rely heavily on caregiver support. Therefore, it is imperative to evaluate and analyze the oral health status of these children to identify their dental treatment needs and to provide relevant information to parents, guardians, educators, and healthcare professionals. Aim: The objective is to examine the oral health status of preschool-aged children with cerebral palsy. Materials and Methods: We included 119 preschool-aged children from the 10th complex of kindergartens and nursery in the capital city, employing a cross-sectional descriptive research model. The study was conducted with the approval of the Research Ethics Review Committee of MNUMS (Approval No. 2023/3-06). The oral hygiene status of the participants was evaluated using the Fedorova-Volodkina method (1970), while oral diseases, gingival tissue condition, and other related symptoms were assessed through a single examination tool. The study results were analyzed using the statistical software STATA 18 (Stata Corp, USA). Results: Among the 119 children aged 1 to 6 who participated in the study, 94.1% exhibited insufÏcient oral hygiene, and the prevalence of tooth decay was found to be 89.1%, with an average intensity of 6.9±0.5 clinical surfaces per tooth. The highest intensity of caries was observed at age 4, measuring 11.2±1.2 (p=0.000). Gingival evaluations indicated that 48.7% of the participants were healthy, while 51.3% exhibited signs of inflammation. Additionally, 37.8% of the respondents displayed symptoms of drooling, whereas 62.2% did not. Dental erosion was identified in 23.5% of the children, with a notable increase in prevalence corresponding to age, particularly at 6 years (p=0.006). Conclusion: The oral hygiene of children with cerebral palsy is inadequate, and both the prevalence and intensity of tooth decay, gingivitis, and other related symptoms tend to increase with age.