Aim: The study aimed to evaluate the gingival and oral hygiene status of intellectually disabled children and adolescents from 8 special-care schools in urban environment and to collect data from parents or caregivers concerning oral hygienic habits of their children.
Material and methods: Both Gingival Index (GI) according to Löe and Silness with the use of 4 degree scale (0-3) depending on gingivial status, as well as Plaque Index (PlI) by Silness and Löe also with the use of 4 degree scale (0-3) according to hygiene status, were calculated on the basis of oral examination carried out in 367 schoolchildren. A questionnaire study was done on 264 parents/caregivers. The questions concerned toothbrushing frequency in children, self-dependence in teeth cleaning as well as the use of additional ways of oral hygiene. The results were presented with respect to patients' degree of disability, sex and dentition type - milk or permanent.
Results: The Gingival Index in the patients with mixed dentition was 1.33, whereas the Plaque Index amounted to 1.67, while in those with permanent dentition the indices were 1.40 and 1.75, respectively. The questionnaire study revealed that 59.1% children brush their teeth more than once daily and in most cases (49.6%) they carry out the procedure without direct help of parents.
Conclusions: The study revealed widespread gingivitis in the examined population, the main reason being neglect of oral hygiene. Gingival status was worse in relation to the degree of intellectual disability. There is a need for an educational programme for the patients themselves as well as their parents/caregivers and health professionals concerning oral cavity prophylaxis.