IMPACT OF ORAL HEALTH BEHAVIOURS ON DENTAL CARIES IN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Dental caries is consistently reported as one of the primary medical needs of children with Cerebral palsy (CP). It has negative impact on the overall health of these children and increase burden on their parents OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of socioeconomic profile, previous dental visits, oral hygiene practices, and dietary habits on dental caries experience in children with CP in Alexandria, Egypt. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case control study included 80 children with CP, who were 3 to 11 years old. Equal number of cases (children with CP who had caries lesions) and controls (caries free children with CP) were included. Data were collected using an interview based questionnaire and clinical examination. Questionnaire assessed socioeconomic characteristics, medical history, previous dental visits, oral health behaviours and dietary habits. Clinical examination assessed caries experience and oral hygiene index (OHI-S). Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the factors associated with dental caries. RESULTS: The average age of children in the study was 6.75 years, 68.8% of them were males. Caries experience was expressed through dmft for the primary teeth and dft/DMFT for mixed dentition. The mean values were 6.72± 2.52, 5.64 ±2.98 and 1.32 ±1.73, respectively. Children with CP with caries lesions had statistically significant poorer oral hygiene (p <0.0001), which is highly associated with high caries experience (Regression Coefficient=4.45, 95% CI= 3.75, 5.14). Other factors associated with DMF in children with CP included daily sugary snaking habits and food consistency. CONCLUSIONS: The level of oral hygiene status reflecting the efficiency of oral health behaviours, is considered the main factor associated with caries experience in children with CP. However, eating solid food and less than two sugary snacks per day were considered caries protective factors.