The Effect of Internal Displacement of Syrian Refugees on Gingival Status

Background: Gingiva plays a great role in protecting and preserving the teeth, so controlling plaque and oral care is a necessity to reach good oral health that protects against gingiva and periodontal diseases. Aim: This research aims to assess the impact of migration and internal displacement of the Syrian refugees on their gingival status through the study of their Oral Health Indexes. Promoting the importance of oral health care and teaching those ways and multiple means to upgrade their awareness. Methodology: A cross-sectional study of a random sample of 1090 students that was included (631 non-refugees, 307 refugees living in regular homes, 152 refugees in shelter homes). They filled out a questionnaire that includes some of the proposed risk factors (refuge and place of residence) and were examined based on dental plaque index (PI), gingival inflammation (GI), and simplified oral hygiene (OHI-S). Chi-Square test was used at the level of significance 0.05 ≤ P statistical study. Results: The current study showed that the level of Oral Hygiene (OHI-s) in the refugees in shelters was lower than each of the other groups, and showed that the incidence of gingivitis in this group (84.2 %) was greater than the refugees in regular homes (74.3 %) and non-refugees (72.7 %). Conclusion: High prevalence of gingival inflammation and poor oral health when the refugees living in shelters, compared with the refugees in regular homes and non-refugees. Dental plaque, poverty, and psychological factors played an important role in increasing the spread of gingival inflammation among students in this crisis. Clinical Significance: Knowing the gingival status of refugees in order to provide them with assistance in order to raise the level of oral care.