oral hygiene program for a group of institutionalized mentally handicapped children in Kuwait

ABSTRACT

An oral hygiene program was carried out at the Rehabilitation Center for the Handicapped in Kuwait. A total of 68 mentally handicapped children with an age range 5-14 years were included in the study. A specially designed examination chart was used to assess the gingival condition and oral hygiene status of the children. Following the initial examination, scaling was performed for all children with calculus deposits by means of three dental hygienists. Oral health education sessions were held for the nursing staff responsible for the hygiene of the handicapped patients to teach them the different ways of caring for the oral health of the handicapped patients. Following the sessions, professional tooth brushing was instituted for all children once daily. After one month from the initiation of tooth brushing, the children were reassessed to determine the short term effects of the program on their oral health. The means for reduction in gingival, oral debris and oral calculus index scores following the program were all significant at the 5% level indicating that effective complete plaque removal even once a day can improve gingival health and oral hygiene status among mentally handicapped. Recommendations were given in order to attain an acceptable level of oral health in such vulnerable priority groups