DEVELOPMENT OF DENTAL BRUSHING PRACTICE IN CHILDREN WITH VISUALLY IMPAIRMENT IN MAESAI SPECIAL EDUCATION SCHOOL , MAESAI DISTRICT, CHAING RAI PROVINCE

Abstract

Abstract

Background

Oral health problems in visually impaired children in Maesai Special Education School are dental caries and gingivitis. Caries prevalence is  85 % , gingivitis is  100 % and oral hygience status is poor because they could not remove plaque effectively .The effective and proper tooth brushing practice, could decrease the severity of dental caries and gingivitis in visually impaired children.

Objectives

To develop a model of tooth brushing practice in blind children and evaluate a model by using oral hygiene status and gingival status.

Methods

This is a quasai experimental research from December 2017 to March 2018. The population included 19 students, 5 teachers and 3 caregivers. Group discussion and in-depth interviews with teachers and administrators were held to find out the proper style of brushing, and then applied to the real practice for 4 weeks. The oral hygiene measures were used to evaluate the studied outcomes. The content analysis and Wilcoxson signed ranks test were used to analyze data.

Results

Children were classified into two groups by teachers, as visually impaired children and visually impaired children with mental retardation. The blind group, who could brush their own teeth, was taught horizontal scrub technique, “Spit don't rinse” brushing by using audio tactile performance technique. With the complicated group, the “Spit don't rinse” brushing skill and horizontal scrub technique were performed to teachers and caregivers instead. After regular practice for 4 weeks, both groups had better oral hygiene status and gingival status (p <0.05).

Conclusions and DiSScustions

The model from this study can be applied to the others visually impaired children, by teaching them horizontal scrub technique, “Spit don't rinse” brushing by using audio tactile performance technique. After regular practice for 4 weeks, both groups had better oral hygiene status and gingival status (p <0.05)