Malocclusions and traumatic injuries in disabled schoolchildren and adolescents in Kuwait
Author: Shyama M, al Mutawa SA, Honkala S.
Source:
Special Care in Dentistry, 21(3), 104-108.
The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of malocclusion and
traumatic injuries in disabled children and adolescents attending the
special-needs schools in Kuwait. Included in the study were 818 children (438
males and 380 females), in the age groups of 3-20 years, who have visual
impairment, hearing impairment, physical handicaps, or developmental disorders.
The mean age of participants was 11.9 years. The survey was carried out according
to the methods of WHO. The prevalence of severe malocclusion was 23.6%, and that
of slight malocclusion was 37.0%. Children with Down syndrome (OR = 2.3; 95% CI =
1.51-3.52), those of increasing age (OR = 1.1; 95% CI = 1.01-1.10), and males (OR
= 1.5; 95% CI = 1.05-2.07) had higher risk for the occurrence of severe
malocclusion. Less than one-fifth of the subjects (16.9%) had traumatized
anterior teeth. Severe malocclusion (OR = 1.8; 95% CI = 1.17-2.77) and increasing
age (OR = 1.2; 95% CI = 1.13-1.26) were significant risk factors for the
occurrence of traumatic injuries. We concluded that malocclusion and traumatic
injuries are more prevalent among these subjects with disabilities than among the
healthy population in Kuwait.