Caries experiences and oral hygiene status among the children with repaired cleft lip and/or palate in bengalee population, North Kolkata, West Bengal

Aims: The aim of the present study is to determine differences in the dental caries experience, gingival health among 4-14 year old Bengalee children with repaired cleft lip and /or palate in North Kolkata, West Bengal Study Design and Methods and Material: Forty five children of age group 4-14 years, with repaired cleft lip and /or palate selected as study sample who were sub-grouped according to gender and age. Children were clinically examined for dental caries and oral hygiene status. For caries assessment DMFT index for mixed & permanent dentition and dmft index for primary dentition were used. Assessment of oral hygiene status was done using OHI-S. In case of a child with primary dentition deciduous second molars &deciduous incisors were examined for OHI-S. Statistical analysis used: All the data were recorded, tabulated and arranged in excel sheet to obtain mean value, standard deviation, percentage and p value by utilizing SISA software. Results: Mean caries scores were slightly higher in female as compared to male children though it was statistically insignificant. Mean caries score in primary dentition is slightly higher as compared to mixed dentition & permanent dentition. Few children (8.88%) had good oral hygiene and a great majority (91.12%) of the children had either fair or poor oral hygiene. Conclusions: Based on this study it can be concluded that very high caries experience in both primary and mixed dentition and poor oral hygiene in children with repaired cleft lip&/ palate of both sexes could be attributed to low priority of dental care for these children because of the parents’ focus on the numerous medical procedures required to correct the birth defects during early childhood and the presence of deformity and surgical scars which makes it difficult to maintain good oral hygiene and to control plaque.