Oral Hygiene Status, Salivary and Microbiological Parameters Among Visually Impaired and Normal-Sighted Children After Specialized Oral Health Education: An Interventional Study

Apurva P Deshpande; Anil V Ankola; Roopali M Sankeshwari; Mahantesh B Nagmoti; Laxmi Kabra; Atrey J Pai Khot; Ram Surath Kumar

doi:10.7759/cureus.56304

Oral Hygiene Status, Salivary and Microbiological Parameters Among Visually Impaired and Normal-Sighted Children After Specialized Oral Health Education: An Interventional Study

Cureus. 2024 Mar 17;16(3):e56304. doi: 10.7759/cureus.56304. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Authors

Apurva P Deshpande^{1

2}, Anil V Ankola¹, Roopali M Sankeshwari¹, Mahantesh B Nagmoti³, Laxmi Kabra¹, Atrey J Pai Khot^{1

2}, Ram Surath Kumar¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health Dentistry, KLE Vishwanath Katti Institute of Dental Sciences, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, IND.
² Department of Public Health Dentistry, Goa Dental College and Hospital, Goa, IND.
³ Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, IND.

Abstract

Aim and objectives To assess oral hygiene status and salivary and microbiological parameters among 12 to 15-year-old visually impaired and normal-sighted children before and after oral health education (OHE). Methodology An interventional study was conducted among 25 visually impaired children (Group A) and 25 normal-sighted children (Group B) in the age range of 12 to 15 years. Simple random sampling was used to select the study participants. A questionnaire was designed to record socio-demographic data and the dietary habits of the children on pre-decided days. The oral hygiene practices and the Decayed Missing Filled Teeth (DMFT) index were recorded, and salivary physicochemical parameters for all the selected children were evaluated, followed by saliva collection for microbial analysis. After baseline assessment, the Audio-Tactile Performance technique for Group A and the animated visual performance technique for Group B children were used to impart OHE. Periodic assessments of salivary parameters were conducted at one-month and three-month intervals. Unpaired T test/Mann-Whitney U test, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA)/Friedman test, followed by Bonferroni's post hoc test were carried out to determine the difference between and within groups, respectively. All statistical tests were performed at a significance level of 5%. Results Group A demonstrated a greater change in salivary pH (6.20 ± 0.41 to 6.96 ± 0.20), salivary buffering capacity (5.80 ± 0.82 to 7.20 ± 0.65), and Streptococcus mutans count (9.36 ± 0.41 to 8.7 ± 0.45 x 10⁴ CFU/mL) when compared to Group B. Group B demonstrated a greater Lactobacillus acidophilus count reduction (7.96 ± 0.66 to 7.50 ± 0.64 x 10⁴ CFU/mL) when compared to Group A. Conclusion The appropriate use of specialized OHE holds particular significance in the improvement of oral hygiene status and salivary parameters, along with a reduction in the bacterial count in both visually impaired children and normal-sighted children.

Keywords: health education; oral health; oral hygiene; salivary parameters; special child; visually impaired.