Modified Oral Health Quality of Life in Visually Impaired Individuals (Clinical Study)

Abstract

Aims: Assess the oral health quality of life in visually impaired patients present in Mosul city to create appropriate educational programs to maintain oral and dental health for the care of the blindness in Mosul city. Furthermore, authors recording essential individual life satisfaction in the study cases. Material and Methods: Depending on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Questioner forms (OHRQoLQ-14) and modified to be suitable and understandable for the patients, use the DMFT scale with gingivitis scale to evaluate the oral health of the disabled individuals. Result: Age group (0-12) was (34.3%) as well (21-40) show the same percentage as the high proportion of cases in the sample. Forty-four males are affected. More than half of the cases are not educated and single. Disability time is distributed between trauma from the wars (10 patients). At the same time, a quarter of cases affected by diseases in the eye or other sites affecting the eye are secondary, and most cases (60%) are born with the disability of vision loss. Four patients have other disabilities, which is mental retardation.Thalassemia and other systematic disease documented in five individuals, cleft lip and palate, deaf and mute with other congenital anomalies are seen in 19 patients. The rest of the patients (72.9%) recorded solely visual impairments. According to DMFT and Gingivitis Scale, decay and missing teeth (76.1- 66.2) recorded the highest presence respectively with mild gingivitis seen in forty five patients. Concerning treatment need near half of cases needed multiple dental treatment can ranged between extraction, root canal filling and scaling. Conclusion: Oral health and hygiene are clinical parameters that can reveal the individual satisfaction of their life quality because of the disability that may affect their daily activities. Disability or impairment that can limit the typical role of the individual, specifically vision impairment. Oral health plans with blindness individuals include making variations and habits that permit them to be independent in oral hygiene care and grow pride in their successes. Clinical Relevance: Visual impairment is critical disability can alter quality of life. Oral health and hygiene can also influenced by the disability. Blind persons need help in many parts in their life. Independent oral health in blind patients can be encouraged by some variations.