title: Dental caries and periodontal status of mentally handicapped institutilized children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dental caries and periodontal disease are the most prevalent dental disease among mentally retarded children worldwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A study was carried out in Jodhpur city of Rajasthan state of India to assess the Dental caries and periodontal Status of Mentally handicapped attending special schools children in Jodhpur city.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted in 80 mentally handicapped subjects, attending a Special Needs school in Jodhpur City. Dental caries and Periodontal Status were recorded following the WHO basic oral health survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the subject had healthy periodontal status, dental caries was found in 79.2% of the subjects, Lymphadenopathy was observed in highest number of subjects 55 (76.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health professionals should therefore be aware of the impact of mental illness and its treatment on oral health, Health personnel should receive training to support and provide all possible services to this population.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vyas Dental College & Hospital , Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India .
authors.forename: Jitender
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Solanki
authors.affiliation: Post Graduate Student, Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Vyas Dental College & Hospital , Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India .
authors.forename: Sarika
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Conservative and Endodontics, P.D.M. Dental College , Bahadurgarh, Haryana, India .
authors.forename: Astha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arya
keywords: Dental caries; Institutilized; Mentally handicapped; Oral health services; Oral hygiene