[Oral health and treatment needs of 12-13 year-old epileptic schoolchildren in two special schools in the West Cape].
The aim of this study was to determine the oral health status and treatment needs of 12-13 year old epileptic children at the Jan Kriel and Bet-El schools for neurologically handicapped children. This information will be used as a guideline to aid the planning and evaluation of oral health programs at both institutions. A total of 25 White and 25 Coloured epileptic schoolchildren were respectively examined at Jan Kriel and Bet-El. The variables examined were the status and treatment needs for both caries and periodontal lesions, phenytoin-induced gingival hyperplasia and fractures of anterior teeth. The measurement of the variables were based on the criteria of the World Health Organization. The mean DMFT at Bet-El was 4,8 in comparison with 2,0 at Jan Kriel. No children at Bet-El were caries free, whilst 32 per cent of the children at Jan Kriel were caries free. Sixty four per cent of the children at Jan Kriel needed no treatment for caries in comparison with the 8 per cent at Bet-El. Caries treatment needs consisted mainly of 1- and 2-surface restorations at both institutions. Only 8 per cent of the children examined at Bet-El were periodontally sound in comparison to the 32 per cent of the children at Jan Kriel. A high prevalence of gingival bleeding on probing was observed at both institutions. A need for oral hygiene instructions existed at both institutions. More than 50 per cent of the children at Bet-El needed scaling and polishing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Hartshorne
J E
JE
Carstens
I L
IL
Theron
Z
Z
Norval
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D004827:Epilepsy; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013019:South Africa; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*
Die mondgesondheidstatus en behandelingsbehoeftes van 12-13 jarige epileptiese skoolkinders in twee spesiale skole in die Wes-Kaap.