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Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing Ltd.
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2025, vol. 31, issue2
Subject Area: Dental Medicine
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2025312.6199
Published online: 12 May 2025
Original article
J of IMAB. 2025 Apr-Jun;31(2):6199-6203
STRATIFIED ASSESSMENT OF DENTAL CARIES RISK FACTORS IN CHILDREN WITH DIFFERENT GRADES OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT
Peter Bakardjiev
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Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University - Sofia, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Hearing impairments are often associated with communication difficulties, which can hinder effective health education and the implementation of programs for proper oral hygiene and dental disease prevention.
Aim: To assess the impact of oral hygiene, dietary patterns, and socioeconomic factors on dental caries prevalence in children with varying grades of hearing impairment
Materials and methods: The objects of the study were 58 children (7 to 10 years) – 21 healthy children without hearing impairment,19 with mild and moderate hearing loss (they can't hear sounds below 20- 65 dB), 18 with severe and profound hearing loss (65 + dB). A comprehensive dental examination and professional oral hygiene were carried out on each child, during which the social status and eating habits were assessed through responses to a structured questionnaire administered in simple language and suitable formats. Data were collected and analyzed to identify the main factors influencing the prevalence of oral diseases in this special care need group.
Results: In the control group, 52.4% had a high socioeconomic status. In the mild to moderate hearing loss group, 84% had a medium status, and in the severe hearing loss group, 44.4% had a low status. Children with hearing impairments, particularly those with severe hearing loss, exhibit significantly higher DMF scores, with the severe hearing loss group and poor oral hygiene having a DMF of 8.31 ± 2.93, compared to 5.29 ± 0.49 in the control group with poor hygiene. Children with frequent carbohydrate intake, reported by 67.7% of children with severe hearing loss, exhibit the highest mean DMF score (8.1), while those with limited intake, mostly from the control group (52.4%), show the lowest DMF score (2.4).
Conclusion: The results of this study emphasize the heightened oral health risks in children with hearing impairments, particularly those with severe hearing loss. Addressing socioeconomic, hygiene, and dietary factors through targeted interventions is essential for improving oral health outcomes in this vulnerable group.
Keywords: Socioeconomic status, oral health, hearing impairment,
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Please cite this article as: Bakardjiev P. Stratified Assessment of Dental Caries Risk Factors in Children with Different Grades of Hearing Impairment. J of IMAB. 2025 Apr-Jun;31(2):6199-6203. [Crossref - 10.5272/jimab.2025312.6199]
Correspondence to: Peter Bakardjiev, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of dental medicine, Medical University – Sofia; 1, Georgi Sofiisky Str., Sofia, Bulgaria; E-mail: bucki_tuz@yahoo.com
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Received: 17 December 2024
Published online: 12 May 2025