Oral health status and hygiene practices among visually impaired adolescents from a school in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Visual impairment affects a significant population globally. The aim of this study was to determine the oral health status and oral hygiene practices among visually impaired adolescents from a school in Kenya. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 159 adolescents aged 10-19 years attending the largest public primary boarding school for the blind in Kenya. A questionnaire was used to record participants' socio-demographic variables and oral hygiene practices. Clinical examination was undertaken to assess oral health status which consisted of oral hygiene, gingival health, and dental caries. Bivariate analyses were conducted to compare dental health outcomes across socio-demographic characteristics. RESULTS: There were 69 (43.4%) and 90 (56.6%) participants in Category I and II visual impairment respectively, 85 (53.5%) were male and 74 (46.5%) were female. Study participants were divided into three age categories: 10-12 years 48 (30.2%), 13-15 years 67 (42.1%), and 16- 19 years 44 (27.7%), with an overall mean age of 13.9 ± 2.3. All participants brushed their teeth, majority 107 (67.3%) brushed two or more times daily. Only 66 (41.5%) of the participants replaced their toothbrushes at 3 months. Sex (p =< 0.001) and age (p = 0.04) influenced frequency of toothbrush replacement. The average plaque score and gingival score index was 0.95 ± 0.45 and 0.28 ± 0.25 respectively, with gingivitis prevalence of 88.1%. Overall dental caries prevalence was 44.7%, [42.1%)] permanent dentition and [8.2%] deciduous dentition. Mean DMFT and dmft were 0.44 ± 0.60 and 0.12 ± 0.32 respectively. DMFT had a statistically significant association with sex (t = 1.82, p = 0.03). Oral hygiene practices did not influence oral hygiene and dental caries status. However, a statistically significant association was reported between frequency of toothbrush replacement and gingival score index ("p" =< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The study reported general good oral hygiene, prevalent gingivitis 140 (88.1%), and almost half of the study population affected by dental caries 71 (44.7%). Most participants were unaware of using fluoridated toothpaste and of needing to change toothbrushes within 3 months. Frequency of toothbrush replacement was reported to influence gingival score index.

Comparison of measured and predicted mesiodistal tooth-widths of 13-17 years old Kenyans: a descriptive cross-sectional study to develop a new prediction equation for use in the mixed dentition in a Kenyan population.

BACKGROUND: The Tanaka and Johnson equation is commonly used in mixed dentition analysis. However, the analysis is based on  a Caucasian population making clinical decisions challenging when used in different ethnic groups. This study developed a prediction equation based on a Kenyan population. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study done in 68 13-17 years old Kenyans of African descent in two boarding secondary schools. Alginate impressions were taken, study models obtained, and mesiodistal tooth-widths measured on upper and lower study models from the first molar to the contralateral first molar. Descriptive statistics, paired t-tests and independent t-tests were conducted and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients calculated (p < 0.05). RESULTS: The mean age was 13.78 years (SD ± 0.70), females were 59%. The mesiodistal tooth-widths of the permanent canines and premolars were different between males and females (p ˂ 0.1). The Tanaka and Johnston equation significantly under-estimated the mesiodistal tooth-widths of the permanent canines and premolars (p ˂ 0.05). The addition of lower first permanent molars to the permanent lower incisors provided higher correlation coefficients than the Tanaka Johnston equation. CONCLUSIONS: A new equation that includes the permanent lower incisors and first permanent molars as predictor teeth seems to be more suitable for mixed dentition analysis for this Kenyan population. A larger study is needed to validate these findings.