Effect Of A Dental Health Education Program On The Oral Health Status Of Hearing-Impaired Children

Abstract

This research was designed to provide an insight into the oral health status and attitude among the hearing-impaired children before and after implementation of oral health education program.

A total of 125 Egyptian children with hearing impairment aged from 6-14 years were examined. A sample of 103 children was included in this study where clinical examination was carried out to assess the children oral hygiene status and caries experience at the beginning of the study, three months and six months later. Oral health behavior, attitude toward proper oral hygiene, in addition to the knowledge of their caregivers regarding the proper oral hygiene and diet were evaluated by questionnaire at the beginning of the study and six months later.

The oral health education program was based on educating the hearing-impaired children with the information about the causes of tooth decay and examples of food that lead to dental caries and the benefits of proper oral hygiene and diet. The educational tools used in this program were study models, posters, pamphlets and videos. The lecture was given in the first month then repeated every month till the sixth month.

The recorded data was tabulated and statistically analyzed with SPSS 19 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) for windows.

Regarding the caries experience, 82.52% of the children had caries and decayed teeth (D),(d) represent the highest score in DMF and def respectively. The mean DMF values remain somewhat stable throughout the study and a statistical decrease in the mean value of def was significant after six months of program in addition to that a statistical significant decrease in the mean value of simplified oral hygiene index indicating improvement in oral hygiene status, after three and six months of the program.