Assessment of visually challenged patients treated in special care clinic in a hospital setting

Abstract

The oral cavity is a window or mirror to the overall health of the body, and  it reveals the early signs and symptoms of systemic diseases. The aim of the study was to assess the dental considerations for visually challenged patients treated in the Special Care Department in a hospital setting. A total of 20 cases were collected from the special care clinic. The data collected were assembled year wise and compiled in excel sheets with age, gender, periodontal status and oral hygiene status. The incomplete cases were removed. Frequency distribution statistical tests were used to calculate the frequency of age, gender, periodontal status and oral hygiene status of visually challenged patients. The comparison of the frequency of age, in visually challenged patients were common in the age group of 30 to 50 years of age. On comparing gender, males 60% were higher than females 40%. On comparing the frequency of periodontal status, it showed more prevalence of Generalized chronic gingivitis 55%, than Localised periodontitis 30% and generalized chronic periodontitis 15%. On comparing dental procedures done, the highest procedure done was restoration 85%. On comparing oral hygiene status, it showed more patients affected with OHI score 3.4 in the age group <35 years. On comparing oral hygiene status with gender, the males have higher prevalence with OHI score 2.5 compared with female 2.0. The conclusion is that males mostly attended to dental problems among visually challenged patients. The age group between 30 to 50 years were affected. The Oral hygiene status of visually challenged patients on calculating OHI scores results fair, and most of them have generalised chronic gingivitis. The common dental procedure done was restoration 85%, extraction 45%, prophylaxis 70% and prosthesis 15%.