A prospective case-control study to evaluate oral health status before and after intervention using different dental aids in children with visual impairment.

Background: A major dental concern in children with special health-care needs is poor oral hygiene, which results in increased incidences of dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontal disease.

Aims: The study intended to determine if there was a difference in the oral health status of children with visual impairment and normal children and to evaluate the efficacy of the frequently used dental aids.

Settings And Design: The study population included 90 children, 45 children with visual impairment (study group) with age- and sex-matched 45 normal children (control group). Both the groups were further divided into three intervention subgroups. Subgroup A: manual toothbrushes, Subgroup B: manual toothbrush with medicated mouthwashes, and Subgroup C: powered toothbrushes.

Materials And Methods: For each subject, oral hygiene index simplified (OHIS), Turesky-Gilmore-Glickman modification of the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index (TQPHI), and decayed missing filled teeth (DMFT) indices were recorded at baseline, i.e., before any intervention. This was followed by oral prophylaxis by ultrasonic scaling. The three indices were recorded in 0 (baseline), 30 days (1 month), 90 days (3 months), and 180 days (6 months), respectively.

Statistical Analysis Used: ANOVA test, Chi-square test, and student paired test were used for statistical analysis.

Results: The mean TQHPI and OHIS values of mouthwashes at the end of 6 months were 1.01 and 1.60, respectively, which were lower than manual and power brushes. No statistically significant reduction in the DMFT scores with the use of any of the adjuncts was noted.

Conclusions: Among the dental aids used in the study, mouthwash showed a significant reduction in plaque and oral hygiene scores as compared to powered toothbrushes and manual brushes alone.