Research Information System
17th European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry Congress, Gothenburg, Sweden, 12 - 15 June 2024, pp.32
AIM: The oral hygiene and dental care of children and adolescents in residential care pose unique challenges, with limited research addressing their oral health status and utilization of dental services. This study aimed to assess the oral health of 9-17-year-old children residing in a single social care home in Istanbul. METHODS: A cluster cross-sectional survey was designed, involving children living in the same social care home. Oral examinations were conducted, assessing decayed, missing, filled teeth in primary (dmft) and permanent dentition (DMFT), Visible Occlusal Plaque Index (VOPI), and Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) scores. Additionally, a questionnaire examined oral hygiene practices, last dental visits, treatments received, and dietary habits. RESULTS: The study included 103 boys, with 47% (n = 48) aged 9-12 and 53% (n = 55) aged 13-17. The mean age was 12.73 ± 1.79 years. Children had a mean dft of 0.81 ± 1.71 and DMFT of 3.83 ± 2.88. Forty-five percent (n = 47) brushed their teeth twice daily, while 47% (n = 49) consumed preferred sweets twice a week. A majority of children (90%) reported dental visits, with 90% having no or thin visible plaque (VOPI 1-0). The mean(SD) OHI-S index was 14.55±5.18. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the study's limitations, such as the homogeneous nature of the residential care population, the findings suggest that children in social care homes demonstrated good oral health influenced by dietary habits and oral health behaviors.