title: A study of the dental health of children and young adults attending special schools in South Glamorgan.
abstract: An epidemiological study was carried out involving 677 children and young adults aged between 3 and 19 years who were attending special schools in South Glamorgan. The children and young adults were examined for caries and periodontal disease. Their dental attendance pattern and the dental service they used were recorded, and their mobility and posture, and comprehension and cooperation, were assessed. The results showed that the majority were receiving regular dental care and that the caries experience of 12- and 14-year-old children was lower than that of children of the same ages in other state schools. Five-year-old children were found to have a dmft of 4.18, which was significantly higher than that of similar-aged children attending state schools. Forty-seven per cent of the children and young adults were found to have periodontal disease; the greatest percentage (60%) was found in the young adults in the 15-19-year-old age group. Caries experience and gingival health were not related to the subjects' mobility and posture but caries experience was greater and gingival health was poorer in subjects who had reduced comprehension and cooperation. The study highlighted deficiencies in the service provided for this group, especially for pre-school children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dental Health, South Glamorgan Health Authority.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greening
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: French
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology