Oral health and general health in children having intellectual disabilities: a cross sectional study

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess the correlation between oral health and general health in children having intellectual disabilities. Cross-sectional, questionnaire based study. This study was conducted at Step to Learn School, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, fromMay to June 2014. A sample of 88 children were selected from two branches of 'Step to Learn, a special school for children with intellectual disabilities. Body Mass Index [BMI] was used to assess general health, while oral health was measure by the Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth [DMFT] index. Dental surgeons and dental students conducted the examination. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to compare the correlation between BMI and DMFT. The data was analyzed using the software SPSS [v 17.0]. Out of 88 children, data of 85 [96.59%] was recorded. No significant correlation was found between oral health and general health [r = -0.06]. The general health of children with intellectual disabilities does not impact their oral health. Subsequent oral and general health educational initiatives should be conducted separately