ABSTRACT
Background and aim: oral and dental health status of the mentally handicapped, as compared with the healthy population, have been poor and care paid to them has been minimum. The goal of this epidemiological study was to evaluate DMFT and its effective factors among 14-20 year-old mentally retarded population residents in special institutes authorized by Behzisti organization [Charity or governmental] in the north of Tehran [2001-2002]
Methods and Materials: in this study 523 handicapped subjects [254 females, 269 males] were examined. The total number of handicapped was 535, from among them 12 persons, due to lack of cooperation, were excluded. The handicapped are classified to three groups based on IQ test: Educable, trainable and isolated. Examinations in educable and trainable handicapped were done with a plane mouth mirror number 4 [Hahnen-kratt, Germany] and straight explorer number 8 [Kicodent Germany] on a chair or dentistry unit In uncontrollable isolated handicapped dental examination was done on a bed using a wooden stick. Dental caries diagnosis was done according to Jakson and slack criteria. DMF was evaluated based on WHO recommendations. Quantitative data was analyzed using one way analysis of variance [ANOVA] and qualitative data by chi-square test. The effects of the following factors on DMFT were evaluated: Type of nutrition, method of oral cleansing, type of institute [Charity or governmental], the presence of Down's syndrome, age, sex and degree of retardation
Results: mean DMFT was 4.8324.65 which was considerably higher than the normal population [=2]. This study revealed that method of oral cleansing put a significant effect on DMFT [P<0.5]. Age and degree of mental retardation had a statistically significant effect on DMFT, too [P<0.05]. The number of decayed [D], missed [M] and filled [F] teeth was considerably in relation to the degree of mental retardation. The type of institute had no effect on mean DMFT, but between the number of D and F and type of institute was a significant correlation [P<0.05]. Sex, mode of nutrition, presence of Down's syndrome had no important effects on DMFT. The number of caries free persons was 95 [18.2%]
Conclusion: the findings of this research revealed poorer oral and dental health status and higher mean DMFT of the handicapped comparing to the normal population. Therefore, preventive and primary dental care must be stressed for the mentally retarded population