title: Use of different oral hygiene strategies in children with cerebral palsy: A comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cerebral palsy (CP) is described as a group of conditions usually occurring in childhood, where children have motor dysfunction and are unable to adequately master the necessary techniques of plaque control, which ultimately leads to dental caries and periodontal problems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to educate the parents/caretakers/institution staff and children with CP about the different preventive home care measures and to evaluate the oral hygiene and gingival health status of these children before and after the institution of different preventive home care measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 64 individuals with CP, aged between 6 and 18 years, were examined for their oral hygiene and gingival health status, after which the parents/caretakers received a health education program. The children were then randomly divided into four groups. Each group was administered a specific preventive home care measure (mechanical and chemotherapeutic) to be followed for a period of 6 weeks, and the oral hygiene and the gingival health status were recorded at the end of 1 week, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks. The data were then subjected to statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the sample of 64 children diagnosed with CP, the mean OHI(S) score among the groups of children who were given different preventive home care measures was compared at baseline, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks. Group 4 showed a marked reduction in the OHI(S) score measured from baseline to 6 weeks, when compared to the other three groups which wa statistically very highly significant (P < 0.001) The mean MGI score was compared at baseline, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 6 weeks home, Group 4 showed a marked reduction in the MGI score measured from baseline to 6 weeks, when compared to the other three groups. When the mean MGI score was compared from baseline to 6 weeks, there was a gradual decrease in the MGI score, which was statistically highly significant between baseline and 1 week (P < 0.05) and statistically very highly significant between 1 and 2 weeks (P < 0.001). However, this improvement was not statistically significant between 2 and 6 weeks (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combined mechanical and chemotherapeutic measure is highly recommended to maintain the oral hygiene and gingival health of these special children because of their difficulties and their limited abilities to control dental plaque.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Bangalore Institute of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Ashwini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maiya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Y Rajmohan
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Bangalore Institute of Dental Sciences, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Kavita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Ras Al Khaimah College of Dental Sciences, Ras Al-Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Padmanabhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Amitha M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hegde
keywords: Cerebral palsy; gingival health status; oral hygiene status; plaque control methods