An Assessment of the Prevalence of Dental Caries, Oral Hygiene Status, Deft Index, and Oral Hygiene Habits Among Children With Special Healthcare Needs

Shikha Shalini; Swati Sharma; Abhishek Anand; Sultan A Almalki; Arpan Biswas; Mridul Sharma; Tarun Sihag; Akshaya Ojha; Yogesh Garg; Kapil Paiwal

doi:10.7759/cureus.42416

An Assessment of the Prevalence of Dental Caries, Oral Hygiene Status, Deft Index, and Oral Hygiene Habits Among Children With Special Healthcare Needs

Cureus. 2023 Jul 25;15(7):e42416. doi: 10.7759/cureus.42416. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Authors

Shikha Shalini¹, Swati Sharma², Abhishek Anand³, Sultan A Almalki⁴, Arpan Biswas⁵, Mridul Sharma⁶, Tarun Sihag⁷, Akshaya Ojha⁸, Yogesh Garg⁹, Kapil Paiwal¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Smitam Arogyam Dental Centre, Patna, IND.
² Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Dental College RIMS, Ranchi, IND.
³ Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Netaji Subhas Medical College and Hospital, Patna, IND.
⁴ Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdul Aziz University, Al Kharj, SAU.
⁵ Department of Public Health Dentistry, Vyas Dental College and Hospital, Jodhpur, IND.
⁶ Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, CAN.
⁷ Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Geetanjali Dental College, Udaipur, IND.
⁸ Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Private Practice, Jammu, IND.
⁹ Department of Public Health Dentistry, JCD Dental College, Sirsa, IND.
¹⁰ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Daswani Dental College and Research Center, Kota, IND.

Abstract

Background and objective Children with special healthcare needs are at an increased risk of oral health problems, including dental caries. Understanding the prevalence of dental caries, oral hygiene status, deft (decayed, extracted, filled teeth) index, and oral hygiene habits in this population is crucial for effective oral healthcare planning and interventions. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries, oral hygiene status, deft index, and oral hygiene habits among children aged 4-15 years with special healthcare needs in Jodhpur District, Rajasthan, India. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 124 children from various, government and non-governmental organizations (NGO)-run special schools. Data on dental caries, oral hygiene status, deft index, and oral hygiene habits were collected using standardized tools and techniques. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to analyze the data. Results The prevalence of dental caries among children with special healthcare needs was 65%. The severity of dental caries varied, with 40% classified as mild, 20% as moderate, and 5% as severe. Additionally, 75% of the children exhibited poor oral hygiene, as indicated by the oral hygiene status assessment. The mean deft index score was 2.8, indicating an average dental caries experience among the participants. Regarding oral hygiene habits, 60% reported brushing their teeth once a day, while 40% reported brushing twice a day. However, a significant proportion (70%) reported non-fluoride use, and 55% stated they did not perform regular flossing. Conclusion This study highlights a high prevalence of dental caries, poor oral hygiene status, and suboptimal oral hygiene habits among children with special healthcare needs in Jodhpur District. The findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions focusing on preventive measures, oral health education, and improving access to oral healthcare for this vulnerable population. Further research with larger sample sizes and longitudinal study designs is warranted to validate these findings and develop effective strategies for enhancing oral health outcomes in children with special healthcare needs.

Keywords: children; deft index; habits; oral hygiene habits; dental caries.