Dental health profile of a population with mental retardation in Israel.

The dental status and treatment needs of Israeli children and adults with mental retardation were studied in a random sample of 387 subjects. Four levels of mental retardation were represented: (1) educable (n = 70), (2) trainable (n = 92), (3) with mental retardation and behavioral problems (n = 106), and (4) with mental retardation and severe physical handicap (n = 119). The total age-adjusted DMF-T was 12.78 and differed significantly by behavioral group (p < 0.001); the M-T was 10.70 for the educable group compared with 5.52 for the group with mental retardation and severe physical handicap. Total treatment needs included a participant mean of 3.32 for restorations and 0.61 for extractions. Institutions having dental clinics had higher participant mean DMF-T, D-T, M-T, and F-T values (p < 0.05) compared with those institutions which had no clinics (16.04 vs. 9.74; 5.17 vs. 5.06; 9.45 vs. 4.16; 1.41 vs. 0.52). Age-adjusted CPITN scores significantly differed by behavioral group; the group with mental retardation and severe physical handicap had the highest CPITN 3 category mean score of 2.93 compared with x = 1.89 for the educable group; however, the educable group had the most sextants with no teeth (x = 2.48). Findings confirm high dental morbidity and significant oral health differences by behavior group, age, and dental clinic status. Advanced training is recommended for dental providers and the staffs of institutions to enhance oral health outcomes.

[1]  M. Haavio.  Oral health care of the mentally retarded and other persons with disabilities in the Nordic countries: present situation and plans for the future. , 1995, Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry.

[2]  P. Gabre,et al.  Dental health status of mentally retarded adults with various living arrangements. , 1994, Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry.

[3]  M. Sela,et al.  Caries levels, Streptococcus mutans counts, salivary pH, and periodontal treatment needs of adult Down syndrome patients. , 1991, Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry.

[4]  L. Stovner,et al.  Dental caries and periodontitis in persons with Down syndrome. , 1991, Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry.

[5]  C. Me,et al.  The dental condition of mentally handicapped adults attending adult training centres in Hull. , 1988 .

[6]  E. Schwarz,et al.  Provision of dental services for handicapped children in Denmark. , 1987, Community dental health.

[7]  D. Friedman,et al.  The prevalence of periodontitis and dental caries in a Down's syndrome population. , 1986, Journal of periodontology.

[8]  D. O'mullane,et al.  Dental treatment needs in three institutions for the handicapped. , 1986, Community dentistry and oral epidemiology.

[9]  K. Pieper,et al.  Caries, oral hygiene and periodontal disease in handicapped adults. , 1986, Community dentistry and oral epidemiology.

[10]  K. Gustavson,et al.  Dental health and dental care in severely mentally retarded children. , 1985, Swedish dental journal.

[11]  A. Nowak.  Dental disease in handicapped persons. , 1984, Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry.

[12]  L. Saxén,et al.  Periodontal bone loss in patients with Down's syndrome: a follow-up study. , 1982, Journal of periodontology.

[13]  D. Tesini.  An annotated review of the literature of dental caries and periodontal disease in mentally retarded individuals. , 1981, Special care in dentistry : official publication of the American Association of Hospital Dentists, the Academy of Dentistry for the Handicapped, and the American Society for Geriatric Dentistry.

[14]  D. Tesini.  Age, degree of mental retardation, institutionalization, and socioeconomic status as determinants in the oral hygiene status of mentally retarded individuals. , 1980, Community dentistry and oral epidemiology.

[15]  J. E. Butts.  Dental status of mentally retarded children. II. A survey of the prevalence of certain dental conditions in mentally retarded children of Georgia. , 1967, Journal of public health dentistry.

[16]  J. Swallow.  DENTAL DISEASE IN CHILDREN WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME. , 2008, Journal of mental deficiency research.