The Effect of Regular Dental Examination on Prevention of Caries in Patients with Cerebral Palsy

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the tendency of occurrence of dental caries in the primary or permanent dentition of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and attempt to determine an appropriate treatment method. METHOD: We examined 29 children with CP treated in our rehabilitation center (CP group) and 27 normal children from one of the local kindergartens (control group). We checked DMF (decayed, missing and filled teeth) and DMF ratio (DMFR) and asked them if they underwent regular dental examinations or not. RESULTS: The mean age (+/-standard deviation) of the CP and control groups was 4.75 (+/-1.99) and 4.96 (+/-0.71), respectively. The prevalence of dental caries in the CP and control groups was 69% and 44%, respectively; moreover the percentage of patients in the CP group who underwent regular dental examinations was lower, as compared to the control group. Moreover, a significant statistical relationship between dental caries and regular dental examinations was observed only in the CP group. CONCLUSION: As compared to the control group, the prevalence of dental caries in children with CP was higher, and they also underwent regular dental examinations less frequently.