Oral Health States among Disabled People in Care Centers in Korea

This study was conducted to assess oral health states of disabled people during the period from June 25 through October 30, 2004. A total of 548 disabled people participated in the study with details of 419 living in eight residential care centers, 129 children from a special school and two day-care centers located in Gyeongsangbuk-do province.

All subjects underwent oral examination and surveyed through a questionnaire. Parents of 129 children with disabilities were also surveyed through a separate questionnaire.

The dental caries experience rate was 82% of total 548 subjects. By educational level, those with a middle school education experienced a high dental caries rate with 91.8% (p<0.05).

A tooth extraction rate was 37.0% of total subjects. Those in their 40s had a higher rate of tooth extraction(p<0.05).

Among total subjects, 47.6% maintained healthy periodontal tissue. Those in their 40s and those with multiple disabilities had diseased periodontal tissue(p<0.01).

Of 129 disabled children, 43.8% had plaque with parents who were not oral health-conscious while 18.6% had plaque with parents who were oral health-conscious, showing a significant difference(p<0.05)

The results of the study suggest the need for educating parents with disabled children about oral health and strengthening programs for oral health for teachers working at special schools and day-care centers.