Effectiveness of Preventive Oral Health Measures among Special Care School Children (boys) in Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction: Special needs children experience poorer oral health when compared to their compatriots. Moreover, Special Care School Children (SCSC) experience significant barriers to access proper oral health care. It has been found that they have high unmet oral health needs. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of preventive oral health measures in a group of SCSC; boys, in Al-Kharj Governorate of Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study was designed among SCSC in Al-Kharj Governorate of Saudi Arabia starting from October 2016 for a period of eight months.Only schools for boys were included in the study. Out of 936 students enrolled in the special needs education programme in 18 boys schools; 163 SCSC (boys) from eight primary schools were eventually included in the study. After the base line survey; the subjects were evaluated with predefined criteria at three monthly intervals until six months. The effectiveness of various preventive measures was evaluated for reduction in the risk of oral diseases. SCSC were divided into groups as per their specific health care need. Preventive oral health measures such as supervised tooth brushing with a fluoridated tooth paste was introduced with the help of teachers and parents of SCSC. Plaque levels were assessed by means of Plaque index. Various indices were used to measure dental caries including Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT/dmft) as well as Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces (DMFS/dmfs) index. The risk for dental caries was assessed by means of a cariogram model at the start and at the end of campaign. The data was computed using SPSS v20 programme. Means of the overall plaque score and the caries indices scores were calculated and compared among various special need groups among the SCSC. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Results: The overall mean plaque score of the group was 1.55. Plaque scores and mean decayed (D) component were significantly higher in intellectual disabilities as compared to physical disabilities. The mean DMFT and DMFS score was 3.2 and 6.42, respectively with mean decayed (D) component score of 2.67. There was no significant difference among caries prevalence and decayed (D) component among various groups of disabilities. Plaque index score reduced to 1.35 after three months and finally to 1.1 after six months. This was statistically significant (p<0.05). The actual chance to avoid new cavities in the cariogram increased from 5% to 73% at the end, for the SCSC boys. Conclusion: There was a significant decrease in the risk for oral diseases after incorporation of preventive oral health measures for SCSC.

Oral Health Status, Oral Health Behaviors, and Oral Health Care Utilization among Persons with Disabilities in Saudi Arabia

“…Of these, 15 articles were excluded and are listed in Supplementary Table S1 , along with the reasons for their exclusion ( Supplementary Table S1 ). Therefore, 38 studies were included in this review [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. No additional studies were found upon hand searching or searching the gray literature.…”

“…Thirty-five studies were cross-sectional [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 50 , 51 ], one was a longitudinal study [ 45 ], and two were retrospective studies [ 28 , 49 ]. Twenty-two studies were conducted in or near Riyadh [ 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 38 ...…”

“…Twenty-two studies were conducted in or near Riyadh [ 10 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 38 , 46 , 49 , 51 ]. Populations with special needs in the following cities were also studied: Al-Hofuf [ 11 ], Makkah [ 25 ], Khobar [ 30 , 50 ], Dammam [ 12 , 30 , 34 ], Qatif [ 30 , 39 , 44 ], AlMadinah Munawwarah [ 31 ], the Abha/Albaha province [ 34 , 36 ], Jeddah [ 37 ], Taif [ 40 , 42 ], Al-Kharj [ 41 , 45 ], the Aseer region [ 43 ], Makkah [ 47 ], Al-Qassim [ 48 ], Dhahran [ 50 ], Anak [ 50 ], Dareen [ 50 ], UmulSahik [ 50 ], and Al-Nabia [ 50 ]. In 13 studies, the target population was selected from multiple institutions or schools [ 10 , 12 , 13 , 20 , ...…”

“…In 13 studies, the target population was selected from multiple institutions or schools [ 10 , 12 , 13 , 20 , 21 , 26 , 27 , 30 , 33 , 39 , 43 , 44 , 46 ], while in the remaining studies the sample population was either from a single institution or the exact number was not stated. The sample sizes of included studies ranged between 23 and 819 participants [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. Overall, 942 participants with Down syndrome, 1070 with autism spectrum disorder, 564 with cerebral palsy, 466 with a visual impairment, 785 with a hearing and/or speech impairment, 656 with intellectual disabilities, 111 with learning disabilities, 30 with epilepsy, 221 that were medically compromised, and 128 with unclassified disabilities we...…”

“…Overall, 942 participants with Down syndrome, 1070 with autism spectrum disorder, 564 with cerebral palsy, 466 with a visual impairment, 785 with a hearing and/or speech impairment, 656 with intellectual disabilities, 111 with learning disabilities, 30 with epilepsy, 221 that were medically compromised, and 128 with unclassified disabilities were included. Therefore, in this systematic review, data from 4441 individuals with special needs were included [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. The ages of the included participants ranged between 3 and 60 years, with the majority of the studies focusing on children with special needs.…”