Original Research Article
Year: 2017 | Month: November | Volume: 7 | Issue: 11 | Pages: 118-121
Oral Health Status, Knowledge and Caries Occurrence in Visually Impaired Students
Dr. Sailee D. Bhambere
BDS, Nair Hospital Dental College, Mumbai.
ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to evaluate the oral health status, knowledge and occurrence of caries in visually impaired students in a boys-only residential school for blind in Pune, Maharashtra, India. The study was conducted on a total of 85 students all of whom were male. The students belonged to varying ages broadly falling into the age group of 6-13 years. With the help of questionnaires we found that that most of the students brushed their teeth twice a day and using a toothbrush and toothpaste. Many of the students knew that sugar played a major role in formation of dental caries. Knowledge of oral hygiene was decently present due to previous dental programs held in the school. 49 of the 85 students had good oral hygiene. 29 had fair oral hygiene and 7 had poor oral hygiene. 55 had good awareness of role of sugar in caries and 25 had poor awareness. Caries occurrence was minimal in students with good oral hygiene. There were minimum to none differences in oral conditions of these students and normal students. Lack of motivation and absence of vision does make oral hygiene maintenance slightly difficult for them though.
Key words: Visually impaired, oral hygiene, dental caries, toothpaste, disability.