Oral Health Status Of Children Affected With Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a developmental disorder that causes limitation of movements and postural activities. This causes crippling conditions in children and is one of the chief neurological disorders The aim of this study is to find out the oral hygiene status of children who suffer from cerebral palsy. Case records of patients who visited the department of pediatric and preventive dentistry at Saveetha Dental College from June 2019 to March 2020 were reviewed. 12 children who were diagnosed with cerebral palsy were included in the study. Age, gender, DMFT, dmft, total number of caries teeth,OHI were evaluated. The data was analysed through chi-square test. It was observed that there is no significant difference in oral health of children suffering from cerebral palsy p value > 0.05. Within the limitations of our study it was found that children in the age groups 7 to 9 years with cerebral palsy had poor oral health. Providing adequate oral care requires adaptation of special dental skills to help families manage the ongoing health issues that may arise. As oral health is increasingly recognized as a foundation for general wellbeing, caregivers for CP patients should be considered an important component of the oral health team and must become knowledgeable and competent in home oral health practices.