Factors Associated with the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

Different factors can influence the perception of quality of life in individuals with intellectual disabilities. This study investigated the factors associated with quality of life related to oral health in children with intellectual disabilities from the perspective of their parents. A cross-sectional study was carried out with Brazilian children from specialized institutions and their respective guardians. Data were collected through medical records, application of instruments and oral clinical examination (n=92). Most children had poor oral hygiene (64.10%) and a high caries experience (59.8%). The mothers' perception of quality of life related to oral health was low, however there was an association of greater perception when they had low education, female child, less brushing frequency and history of breastfeeding (p≤0.05). Although the perception of quality of life was low, the oral condition found evidences the need to promote oral health education actions with children with intellectual disabilities and their respective guardians.

Effectiveness of audio visual modelling on oral hygiene practices and Oral health among children with intellectual disability

“…The findings of the present study showed that majority of subjects (54.3%) had poor oral hygiene and 45.7% of study participants had good oral hygiene practices. These findings are consistent with the findings of a cross-sectional study carried out among Brazilian children on factors associated with the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in children with Intellectual Disabilities from specialized institutions which revealed that majority (64.10%) of subjects had poor oral hygiene practices [8] . The present study findings revealed that majority, 71.4% of children with intellectual disability had poor oral health and 28.6% had good oral health.…”

Untitled

“…The dmft/DMFT was categorized according to the experience of dental caries: dmft/ DMFT 0=caries-free; 1 to 2=low experience; from 3 to 4=moderate experience and ≥5=high experience. 20 The condition of oral hygiene, assessed by the OHI-S index, is based on the amount of debris (DI-S) and dental calculations (CI-S) that affect the six representative surfaces of the teeth in the mouth. The surfaces examined for OHI-S were selected from four posterior and two anterior teeth (first right upper molar, right upper central incisor, first left upper molar, lower left central incisor, first left lower molar, and first left lower molar).…”