[A comparative study of the evolution of caries in mentally retarded subjects of 5 years' duration].
OBJECTIVE
To study the evolution of caries in two groups of mentally retarded individuals.


METHODS
Longitudinal, prospective, non randomized study, with a five-years follow-up period, with intervention and control groups.


METHODS
Community trial. Primary health care centre in Martorell.


METHODS
Mentally retarded individuals attending a workshop school (intervention group, N = 29) and living in a boarding school (control group, N = 25).


METHODS
One group was on a program of prevention and treatment of caries, the other one received the usual care and acted as a control group.


RESULTS
The number of absent, filled and caries teeth were studied from 1992-1997. An analysis of the variance with repeated measures was carried out. The groups were comparable for most demographic characteristics and basal odontological parameters. While in the control group the number of caries increased (mean92 = 2.2; standard error [SE] = 0.5); mean97 = 3.3; SE = 0.5; p = 0.03) in the intervention group it did not change (mean92 = 1.8: SE = 0.4; mean97 = 1.7; SE = 0.2; p = 0.73). The variation over time was significantly different between the groups (p = 0.03). The mean of filled teeth increased in the intervention group (mean92 = 0.7; SE = 0.4; mean97 = 2.2; SE = 0.4; p < 0.0001) and it did not change in the control group (mean92 = 1.2; SE = 0.5; mean97 = 1.4; SE = 0.6; p = 0.48). There were statistical significant differences between the two groups in the variation over time (p = 0.017).


CONCLUSIONS
Preventive and curative odontological intervention in mentally retarded individuals can be useful to improve the evolution of caries.
Area Básica de Salud Martorell, Dirección de Atención Primaria Baix Llobregat Nord, ICS, Barcelona. bertax@ctv.es
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Agustí
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Sellarès
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Aguado
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Comerma
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Sáez
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
Estudio comparativo de la evolución de la caries en personas disminuidas psíquicas de 5 años de duración.