title: Comparison of the periodontal treatment needs of normal and handicapped children in Lagos.
abstract: The periodontal treatment needs of normal children and those who have mental and multiple handicaps are compared. There were 7.8% handicapped children who did not require any periodontal treatment compared with 1.5% of normal children. Similarly, a higher proportion of normal children (78.6%) compared with 59.4% of handicapped children needed professional oral prophylaxis and oral hygiene education. It was also found from the study that there was a greater need for professional oral prophylaxis in normal children and handicapped children living in institutions than in handicapped children staying with their parents at home. It was concluded that both normal and handicapped children require supervised oral hygiene measures till effective oral hygiene habit is established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Dental Health, College of Medicine, University of Lagos.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Oredugba
authors.forename: K O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Savage
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009549:Nigeria; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D010512:Periodontal Index; D014504:Urban Health