Evaluation of a preventive program based on caries risk among mentally challenged children using the Cariogram model.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the caries risk and to evaluate the risk based preventive program at the end of 10 months amongst the mentally challenged children using the Cariogram model.


METHODS
Longitudinal field trial with before and after comparison.


METHODS
54 children (7-17years old) with mild to severe mental disability constituted the study sample.


METHODS
Brahmadutta School, for the mentally challenged children situated in Pimpri (Maharashtra) India.


METHODS
Phase I: Information of the Cariogram parameters (caries experience, diet content, diet frequency, plaque amount, mutans streptococci, fluoride program, saliva secretion and saliva buffer capacity) were collected, which were used to generate the individual caries profile, based on which the children were divided into 5 risk groups. Phase II: Risk based preventive program was implemented. Phase III: At the end of 10 months, caries profile was generated again.


METHODS
The effectiveness of the preventive program was assessed by comparing the baseline and follow-up caries profile. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
As compared to the baseline, there was a 57% increase in the number of children in "low caries risk group" and for the caries risk factors diet content, diet frequency, plaque amount and Mutans streptococci count had significantly lower values. At follow-up, only 4 new carious lesions developed.


CONCLUSIONS
The preventive program was effective in improving the caries risk factors and increasing the "chance to avoid caries" from a mean of 44% to 87%.
Department of Public Health Dentistry, School of Dental Sciences, Karad, India. dryojanapatil@yahoo.com
Y B
YB
Patil
S
S
Hegde-Shetiya
P V
PV
Kakodkar
R
R
Shirahatti
D000293:Adolescent; D058491:Bacterial Load; D002021:Buffers; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003733:Dental Caries Susceptibility; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D019988:Children with Disabilities; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D019989:Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D011322:Primary Prevention; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000302:isolation & purification
D002021:Buffers; D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005459:Fluorides