Abstract

RUAS, Bruna Aldrighi; BORGES, Cilene Gonçalves; COSTA, Vanessa Polina Pereira  and  SCHARDOSIM, Lisandrea Rocha. Oral health status of children with hearing impairment, enrolled in a special education school. RFO UPF [online]. 2016, vol.21, n.2, pp. 237-241. ISSN 1413-4012.

Objective: To assess the oral health status of schoolchildren aged 6 to 19 years with hearing impairment at a special education school in Southern Brazil. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study collected data on socioeconomic status, degree of hearing loss, and oral hygiene habits, through a questionnaire directed at caregivers. Oral health status was obtained by a clinical exam, which assessed the Visible Plaque Index, the Gingival Bleeding Index, and the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth Index (dmft and DMFT). Descriptive statistical analysis was performed with absolute and relative values, using the Stata software version 10.0. The association between independent variables and the study outcome was assessed with chi-square, Fisher's Exact, and Mann-Whitney tests, at 5% significance level. Results: Fifty students were assessed, whereas the majority was male, low income, and the guardian was a housewife. Regarding oral health, 90% of the students had visible plaque, 22% had gingival bleeding on probing, and the mean dmft/DMFT index was 1.8. Conclusions: The oral hygiene status of the assessed students with hearing impairment was unsatisfactory, and caries disease was present in a significant portion of the children, but it was similar to that of the population with no disabilities.

Keywords : Dental caries.; Students..