Factors that can influence the gingival health of children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Studies have shown that the greater the severity of neurological damage in children with cerebral palsy (CP), the greater risk of oral disease. Objective: To evaluate the influence of some factors as intellectual disability, oral sensitivity, manual ability and clinical patterns of cerebral palsy (CP) onto gingival health of CP children. Method: One hundred and six children (10.7 ± 3.6) with CP participated of the study. Descriptive data and continuous use of drugs were collected from their medical records. Clinical assessments included the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (SOHI), the Gingival Index (GI) and the biting reflex. Were also evaluate oral sensitivity, intellectual assessment by Raven test, and manual dexterity by Manual Ability Classification System Manual (MACS). It was used the chi-square, t Student, and logistic regression tests whit a significance level of 5%. Results: Group 1 (G1) consisted of 47 children without and group 2 (G2) by 59 children with gingivitis. Groups were similar regarding gender (p = 0566), but G2 were significantly older (p = 0.001), with quadriplegia (p = 0.016), who used drugs (p < 0.001) and biting reflex (p = 0.025). G2 children presented significantly higher values for SOHI (p < 0.001) and IG (p < 0.001). Significantly higher percentages of children in G2 presented percentiles below 10 (p = 0.036) for Raven test, with manual skill levels IV and V (p = 0.002) of MACS. The chance of a child present gingivitis grows 23.5% for each year of age, and up to 5 times for every 1 unit increase in SOHI. The use of medication increases the chance of children present gingivitis by about 4.5 times. Conclusion: Increasing age, accumulation of biofilm, and use of drugs increase the risk of gingivitis in children with CP.