Dental problems among hearing-impaired children: Our experiences at a tertiary care teaching hospital in eastern India

Aim of the study
To evaluate the prevalence of dental problems in hearing-impaired children at a tertiary care teaching hospital in eastern India..

Material and methods
This is a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out on 152 children of dental caries status in the age range 5 to 16 years. The children in this study were divided into group I (5-9 years), group II (10-12 years) and group III (13-16 years). Oral health and treatment were documented using methods and standards following WHO oral health surveys 1997. Dental caries prevalence, gingivitis level, plaque levels, and treatment requirement were recorded and analysed.

Results
Out of 152 hearing impaired children, 69 (45.39%) were suffering with dental caries, 36 (23.68%) with plaque, and 24 (15.78%) with gingivitis. The oro-dental hygiene of hearing-impaired children, classified according to the Oral Hygiene Index – Simplified (OHI-S), revealed 31% had fair oral hygiene, 26% good hygiene, and 42% poor oral hygiene. The mean number of decayed teeth was 3.2 ±2.1, the mean number of missing teeth was 0.9 ±1.2, and mean number of filled teeth was 0.4 ±1.2, in which about 89.4% had decayed teeth, 39% had missing teeth, and only 19% had filled teeth.

Conclusions
The children suffering with hearing loss showed unsatisfactory dental health in relation to the status of dental caries.