# Comparative evaluation of dental caries experience among 12-15 year old school children with and without hearing and speech impairment at Belagavi city, India

## TL;DR

This study finds that children with hearing and speech impairments in India have significantly worse dental health than their peers.

## Contribution

The paper provides empirical evidence of higher dental caries risk in hearing and speech-impaired children using the Cariogram method.

## Key findings

- Children with hearing and speech impairments had a mean DMFT score of 6.80, significantly higher than typical children's 1.26.
- The difference in caries risk was statistically significant (p < 0.001), indicating a high need for targeted dental interventions.
- The study emphasizes the importance of early dental care for children with disabilities to improve oral health outcomes.

## Abstract

Dental care is often overlooked for children with disabilities, including those with hearing and speech impairments, despite its
critical importance. A study comparing the caries profiles of 12- to 15-year-old hearing and speech-impaired schoolchildren with their
typical peers using Cariogram involved 140 participants from three schools. Using WHO Dentition Status 2013, clinical examinations
revealed significantly higher mean Decayed Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) scores among children with hearing and speech impairments
(6.80 ± 6.002) compared to typical children (1.26 ± 1.719), a difference that was statistically significant (p < 0.001)
predicting high caries risk. The findings highlight the caries experience in the impaired group, underscoring the need for targeted
preventive and treatment measures. Early caries risk assessment and timely dental care is essential to improve oral health outcomes for
this vulnerable population.