Drooling of saliva and its effect on the oral health status of children with cerebral palsy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of drooling in individuals with cerebral palsy and assess the effect these factors have on these individuals oral health.


METHODS
A total of 113 individuals with cerebral palsy between the age of 5 and 18 years were examined. The incidence and severity of drooling were determined using the index given by Blasco et al and the oral heath was recorded using a modified WHO performa. The data was then subjected to statistical analysis.


RESULTS
While drooling may not predispose the individual to dental caries individuals with drooling have a poorer oral hygiene score than those without.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no significant difference in the Dental caries status, Orthodontic findings or the debris component of the Oral Hygiene Index of individuals who drool saliva and those who do not.
Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Children Dentistry, A.B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Derlakatte, Mangalore, Karnatak, India. amipedo@yahoo.co.in
Amitha M
AM
Hegde
Y Rajmohan
YR
Shetty
Sharat Chandra
SC
Pani
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000209:etiology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D012798:Sialorrhea / Q000209:etiology*