Impact of oral health-related behaviors on dental caries among children with special health-care needs in Goa: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Children with special health-care needs (CSHCNs) have high unmet dental needs and are at increased risk of poor oral health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between oral health behavior and dental caries experience among CSHCN. The cross-sectional study sample comprised of 223 CSHCNs from special educational schools in Goa. A self-administered parental questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics and oral health behavior variables. Type III clinical examination for dental caries was done using the World Health Organization criteria. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 19.0. The mean age of the study sample was 13.85 ± 7.2 years. Seventy-two percent of the study sample had never visited a dentist. Majority of the study participants (57.4%) brushed their teeth once daily. The caries prevalence was 68.6%. The mean decayed, missing, and filled teeth index for permanent dentition and primary dentition of the study participants was 2.83 ± 3.23 and 0.35 ± 1.00, respectively. Dental caries was significantly associated with frequency of brushing and dental visits. The caries experience was high among children with special needs in Goa. There is a significant association between oral health behavior and dental caries experience. Oral health promotion may lead to reduction in dental caries level, thus reducing the emotional, physical, and financial drain on their caregivers.