Dental health of students with special health care needs in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Chou,Ming-Yen, 周明嫣
• Other Authors: Liu,Hsein-Kun
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2006
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/27790503692831591298

碩士 === 長庚大學 === 顱顏口腔醫學研究所 === 94 === Abstract The aim of this study is to survey the oral health status and investigate if any difficulties of dental care for the students with special health care needs in Taiwan. The samples were selected from Taipei city, Taoyuan City and County, Chunghwa City and county, Tainan City and County which are along the western coast Taiwan with the most populated areas by stratified cluster sampling methods. The study subjects are the students with special health care needs in disabled classes from the kindergarten, primary and junior high schools accredited by Department of Education. Dental examination by senior dentists and parents’ questionnaire survey were both conducted. 631students were selected, 538 questionnaires were collected. 417 students have completed dental check-up and 404 of them have completed the both. The caries prevalence rate is 70.7%. Mean carious teeth, missing teeth, filling teeth are 3.7, 0.2, and 1, respectively. Mean carious experience, DMFT index, deft index, filling rate of primary dentition and permanent dentition are 4.89+3.82、2.74+3.81、2.15+3.83、16.3%、24.0% respectively. The caries prevalence rate is not higher as compared to the normal population, but the carious increasing rate is higher than the normal people. 50% lower filling rate and higher extraction incidences than normal children are the most important findings. 21.4% of them have never had a dental check-up、21.8% have not visited dental clinic over one year and 42.7% have inherent difficulties in receiving dental care. 17.3% have ever been rejected by dentists、31.0% parents have had unpleasant feelings towards dental clinic the dentists. 47.6% of students clean teeth by gargling or does not brush teeth、61.1% have never used dental floss. We conclude this special population has barriers of receiving dental care and inadequate oral hygiene maintenance. The national health authority should be aware the situations and make efforts to improve.