ABSTRACT
A sound is produced as a result of various movements and positions of the mobile and immobile elements of the articulation system. Tongue being one of the important mobile elements if restricted may lead to difficulty in articulation of one or more sounds. However, the relationship between speech and ankyloglossia is less investigated. So, we conducted a study to evaluate the prevalence of ankyloglossia among children with speech pathology reporting to District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC).METHODSAn observational study was conducted in the Department of Dental Surgery in association with DEIC of a tertiary care hospital for a period of one year. Children reporting for evaluation of speech pathology between 3 and 11 years of age were examined. Children with a history of traumatic injury or any surgical / chemo radiation treatment to oral cavity were excluded from the study.RESULTSAmong the total of 8911 patients who visited DEIC, 380 patients were referred for evaluation of speech difficulty. Among them a total of 304 patients were diagnosed with ankyloglossia. The overall prevalence of ankyloglossia was 3.4 percent and that among patients with speech problem was 80 percent. The prevalence was distributed as 63.5 percent in males and 36.5 percent in females. Type 2 ankyloglossia was highly prevalent (72 percent) than the others.CONCLUSIONSA substantial proportion of children with speech problem had ankyloglossia (80 percent). So, all the children with speech difficulty should be screened for ankyloglossia and correction undertaken. Awareness should be created among the common people about ankyloglossia, and the treatment options available.
ABSTRACT
Dental professionals are often invited by different school authorities to deliver lectures on oral health and to provide preventive services. The usual target population behind most endeavors comprises the, young school children, and it is with the aim of improving their oral health knowledge, that such programmes are held. However, the fact remains that any child's knowledge and practices are by and large a reflection of what he sees or is taught in his immediate surroundings. We wanted to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards oral health among schoolteachers in Chengalpattu taluk, Kanchipuram district.METHODSUsing simple random sampling technique, a questionnaire study was carried out among 50 government schoolteachers and 50 private schoolteachers in Chengalpattu Taluk. The questionnaire used was a closed ended, self-administered questionnaire consisting of 30 questions pertaining to Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices towards oral healthRESULTSAbout 37.9% of government teachers and 36% of private teachers had knowledge regarding dental caries, 48% of government teachers and 34.9% of private teachers had knowledge regarding gum diseases and 26% of government teachers and 22.7% of private teachers had knowledge regarding malocclusion. Moreover 41% of government teachers and 32.1% of private teachers had knowledge regarding oral cancer. 83.9% schoolteachers were getting information regarding oral health through dentists or doctors. When enquired regarding practices, 63% of schoolteachers brushed their teeth twice daily.CONCLUSIONSKnowledge was highest among the government schoolteachers compared to private schoolteachers among Chengalpattu taluk in Kanchipuram district.