Oral Health Status and Treatment Needs of Visual Impairment in Phitsanuloke, Thailand

Abstract

There is little information on the oral health status of visual impairment in Thailand. Objective: To investigate the oral health status and dental treatment needs of visual impaired Thai. Method: The subjects were 146 visual impairment (70 males and 76 females, mean age 48.8 ± 5.9), who live in Phitsanuloke, Thailand. Information on self-perceived oral health problems, oral function and oral health behavior was obtained via questionnaires. Oral examinations investigated the Decay Missing Filling Teeth (DMFT), Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHIS) and prosthetic needs index. Results: The mean DMFT score was 16.0 (DT=4.4, MT=10.2, FT=1.4), the mean number of teeth present was 15.5. 35% of subjects needed dental fillings and 12.3% required tooth extractions. 34.8% had periodontal disease and mean OHIS score were 2.52. Thirty-eight percent of subjects need both upper and lower partial dentures. Visual impaired suffer from oral function problems (speaking problem 26.5%, swallowing problem 32.6%, tasting problem 29.2% and chewing problem 45.2%). Conclusion: The oral health status of visual impairment was poor due to high levels of tooth loss, caries experience and periodontal disease. Therefore, it is important to have a proper preventive approach and service delivery programs to improve the oral health condition of this population. ABSTRAKKebutuhan perawatan dan status kesehatan gigi dan mulut tuna netra di Phitsanuloke, Thailand. Tidak banyak informasi mengenai status kesehatan gigi dan mulut pada tuna netra di Thailand. Tujuan: Menganalisa status dan kebutuhan perawatan kesehatan gigi dan mulut pada tuna netra di Thailand. Metode: Subjek penelitian ini adalah 146 tuna netra (70 laki-laki dan 76 perempuan dengan rerata umur 48,8±5,9) yang bertempat tinggal di Phitsanuloke, Thailand. Kuesioner digunakan untuk mendapatkan informasi mengenai persepsi subjektif masalah kesehatan gigi dan mulut, fungsi oral dan perilaku. Pemeriksaan oral dilakukan untuk menganalisa Decay Missing Filling Teeth (DMFT), Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHIS) dan prosthetic needs index. Hasil: Rerata DMFT subjek yang diperiksa adalah 16 (DT=4,4, MT=10,2, FT=1,4), rerata jumlah gigi yang masih ada 15,5. 35% memerlukan tambalan gigi dan 12,3% membutuhkan pencabutan gigi. 34,8% memiliki penyakit periodontal dengan rerata OHIS 2,52. 38% subjek membutuhkan gigi tiruan sebagian atas dan bawah. Tuna netra mengalami masalah fungsi oral (masalah dalam berbicara 26,5%, masalah penelanan 32,6%, masalah pengecapan 29,2% dan masalah pengunyahan 45,2%). Simpulan: Status kesehatan gigi dan mulut tuna netra rendah karena kehilangan gigi yang banyak, karies dan penyakit periodontal. Oleh karena itu sangatlah penting untuk memliki pendekatan program preventif yang tepat utnuk meningkatkan kesehatan gigi dan mulut populasi tersebut.

Perbedaan Efektivitas Menyikat Gigi Metode Horizontal Dan Metode Fones Terhadap Penurunan Indeks Plak Gigi Pada Anak Tunanetra Usia 6-13 Tahun Di Semarang

“…Penelitian tersebut dilakukan di Thailand pada 146 orang tunanetra yang terdiri dari 70 orang laki-laki dan 76 orang perempuan. Berdasarkan penelitian tersebut diketahui 35% membutuhkan tambalan gigi, 12,3% membutuhkan pencabutan gigi, 34,8% memiliki penyakit periodontal dan 38% membutuhkan gigi tiruan sebagian atas dan bawah 4 .…”

A tactile graphic book with Braille and audio use improved plaque score and toothbrushing performance in visually impaired individuals

“…A study conducted by Samnieng et al. found that visually impaired Thais have a high caries experience, periodontal disease, and poor oral hygiene 3 . The main factors for oral diseases in visually impaired individuals were plaque accumulation, lack of developing self‐help skills, inability to detect early symptoms of tooth decay, and gingival inflammation 4,5 .…”

“…Establishing knowledge and good oral routines early in life are essential, particularly in visually impaired individuals 3–7 . Currently, oral hygiene instruction for the visually impaired is conducted and reinforced by dentists or dental teams using the same media as for normal‐sighted people.…”

“…6,7 Establishing knowledge and good oral routines early in life are essential, particularly in visually impaired individuals. [3][4][5][6][7] Currently, oral hygiene instruction for the visually impaired is conducted and reinforced by dentists or dental teams using the same media as for normal-sighted people. The main disadvantages of this method are that it is ineffective, labor intensive, requires a large number of people, is time-consuming, and might not be practical from a community perspective.…”

Effectiveness of Herbal Mouthwash among Visually Impaired Residential School Students

“…1 Visually impaired patients are unable to visualize the plaque on tooth surfaces resulting in inadequate plaque removal, progression of dental caries and inflammatory disease of the periodontium. 3 as gold standard mouthwash but it has shown several side effects like staining and taste alteration, which limit its long term use. 4 Therefore, different herbs are being widely explored to discover alternatives to synthetic antibacterial agents.…”