title: Oral health condition of 12-year-old handicapped children in Flanders (Belgium).
abstract: The dental condition of 626 12-year-old handicapped children with mild mental or moderate to severe mental retardation or learning impairment, being 25% of the population of each of these groups, was examined in Flanders. An evaluation of oral cleanliness showed poor oral hygiene in 31.8% of the children. No significant differences were found in oral cleanliness among types of handicapping conditions. The mean DMFT score was 2.9 (s: 2.6) and DMFS score was 5.4 (s: 5.6). Almost 21% of the children were free of caries or fillings. No significant differences were found among groups of handicapped children. Handicapped children presented a low level of restorative care (restorative index score: 48.7%). Mildly mentally retarded children demonstrated the lowest restorative index (43.9%). The caries experience of first permanent molars represented the largest part of the DMFT score (64.1%). Sealants were present in 7.9% of children examined. A considerable percentage of mildly mentally retarded children and learning impaired children did not brush daily (22.1% and 20.9%) and did not receive help with toothbrushing from their parents or carers (91.0% and 94.7%, respectively).
authors.affiliation: Catholic University Leuven, School for Dentistry, Oral Pathology and Maxillofacial Surgery, Operative Dentistry, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gizani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Declerck
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vinckier
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goffin
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003741:Dental Deposits / Q000453:epidemiology; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000453:epidemiology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology; D008963:Molar; D009910:Oral Hygiene / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014076:Tooth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants