title: Dental treatment needs of children with disabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children and adolescents with disabilities appear to have poorer oral health than their non-disabled counterparts. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and severity of oral diseases and treatment needs using world health organization criteria of caries, periodontal disease and malocclusions in a selected population of children with disabilities in Mashhad, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized study on 1621 children aged 5-16 was conducted in 13 special schools by six examiners, using a mouth mirror, explorer and enough lighting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  THE CARIES FREQUENCY OF HEARING IMPAIRED CHILDREN (HI) WAS LOWER THAN THOSE MENTALLY RETARDED (MR) AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED (VI) (DMFT: 2 ± 1.91 versus 2.27± 1.97 and 2.68 ± 2.30, respectively). MR children appear to have poorer oral hygiene and periodontal status than their otherwise disabled counterparts. Most children had class I malocclusion (57%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to this study, an epidemiological survey followed by the implementation and evaluation of long-term public dental health care plan for children and adolescents with disabilities is highly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Behjat Almolook
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Ajami
authors.forename: Mahboobeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shabzendedar
authors.forename: Yar Ali
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Rezay
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asgary
keywords: DMFT index; Dental caries; disabled children; epidemiology; periodontal diseases