Estado de Salud Oral de niños y adolescentes con Discapacidad Intelectual en una población chilena, 2012

Microcephaly caused by the Zika virus: dental care

ABSTRACT Zika virus infection was declared a public health emergency at national and international levels due to the high incidence of the virus infection and its relationship with the birth of children with microcephaly. Patients with microcephaly present significant clinical neuropsychomotor disorders, therefore, dental surgeons should be prepared to treat such patients, observing the possible alterations associated with this condition, as well as the oral diseases. Thus, the purpose of this research study was to inform dental surgeons about the microcephaly associated with the Zika virus, as well as instructing them about the dental care necessary for such condition and its management during the consultations.

Oral health evaluation in special needs individuals

Objective

To identify the prevalence of the main oral problems present in special needs children and to relate the underlying conditions with the clinical and demographic variables.

Methods

The study was based on the physical examination of 47 students from the Associação de Pais e Amigos dos Excepcionais diagnosed as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and intellectual deficit. For data collection, we used a self-administered questionnaire that included indices of dental caries and oral hygiene, Angle classification, malposition of dental groups and oral hygiene habits.

Results

The predominant age group was 12-25 years (46.8%) and most patients were male (55.3%). Regarding daily brushing, 63.8% reported brushing their teeth three times a day, and 85.1% did it by themselves. A total of 48.9% were rated as Angle class I, and 25.5% had no type of malocclusion. A high dental carries index (decayed, missing, filled >10) was observed in 44.7%, and 53.2% had inadequate oral hygiene (zero to 1.16). There was a statistically significant difference between cerebral palsy and the act of the participants brushing their teeth by themselves.

Conclusion

There was a high decayed-missing-filled teeth index and malocclusion class I, as well as inadequate oral hygiene. The type of underlying condition of the participants influenced the act of brushing teeth by themselves.