title: Oral hygiene and periodontal status of teenagers with special needs in the district of Nalgonda, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess oral hygiene status, oral hygiene practices and periodontal status among 14-17-year-old visually impaired, deaf and dumb, intellectually disabled and physically challenged and normal teenagers in the district of Nalgonda, South India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven hundred and fifty teenagers in the age group of 14-17 years, constituting visually impaired, deaf and dumb, intellectually disabled, physically challenged and normal teenagers, were studied. Oral hygiene status and periodontal status were assessed using clinical indices and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the five groups chosen for the study, the intellectually disabled group had the highest plaque scores and poor oral hygiene. The visually impaired and deaf and dumb had better oral hygiene compared with other disability groups. Physically handicapped showed higher loss of attachment scores and deleterious and parafunctional habits. Normal teenagers had good oral hygiene and lower plaque scores. Oral health status relied basically on proper use of oral hygiene aids and training of the groups by their care takers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disabled groups showed poor oral hygiene and higher incidence of periodontal disease, which may be attributed to the lack of coordination, understanding, physical disability or muscular limitations. Hence, more attention needs to be given to the dental needs of these individuals through ultimate, accurate and appropriate prevention, detection and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Implantology, Kamineni Institute of Dental Sciences, Narketpally, Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Nazia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ameer
authors.forename: Rajababu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Palaparthi
authors.forename: Madhukar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neerudu
authors.forename: Sunil Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Palakuru
authors.forename: Harinath Reddy
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Singam
authors.forename: Satyanarayana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Durvasula