A study of the dental treatment needs of children with disabilities in Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

A selected population of children with disabilities in Melbourne, Australia, was studied with reference to their oral disease and treatment needs. A total of 300 children (aged 9-13 years), 150 attending special developmental schools (SDS) and 150 attending special schools (SS), received an oral examination and the parent/guardian completed a questionnaire. Six levels of function were defined, based on the child's independence for five self-care activities (brushing teeth, feeding self, dressing self, walking and performing toilet). The caries experience of children in the SS was lower than in SDS (d+D: 1.3±1.6 versus 1.5±2.4; dmft+DMFT: 2.0±2.3 versus 2.5±3.1); those attending SDS had highe..