Oral health status and treatment needs of children and adolescents with special healthcare needs in Raipur district of Central India: A cross-sectional study
Abstract
Background: Children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) often face elevated risks for oral diseases and significant challenges in accessing timely dental care. This study was conducted because data on the oral health status of CSHCN in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India, were unavailable. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the oral health status and treatment needs of individuals with special healthcare needs aged 3–19 years attending special institutes in Raipur district, Chhattisgarh, India. Design: A descriptive, institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted encompassing 684 CSHCN. Dental caries and oral hygiene status were recorded using the decayed, missing, and filled (DMFT)/dmft and OHI-S indices as per the World Health Organization Basic Methods criteria, employing a complete enumeration sampling technique. All examinations were performed on-site at the institutions, with findings for every participant captured on a purpose-built mobile application. Results: Dental caries prevalence was 67.7%, with an overall mean DMFT/dmft of 2.55. Mean DMFT/dmft did not differ significantly with age or sex but differed significantly across disability type; it did not differ significantly across socioeconomic status (SES). Fair oral hygiene was seen in 51.5% and poor oral hygiene in 12.0%; poorer hygiene was significantly associated with older age, disability type, and lower SES. Overall, 93.4% of participants required dental treatment. Developmental enamel defects were present in 41.4%, traumatic dental injuries affected 10.2%, and 24.9% exhibited a deleterious oral habit. Conclusion: A substantial and multifactorial unmet oral health need persists among CSHCN in Raipur; the findings indicate barriers to accessing dental care and caregiver awareness in relation to unmet oral health needs. Targeted interventions and policy reforms are vital for improving their oral health status.
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BibTeX
@article{gadhvi2026oral,
title = {{Oral health status and treatment needs of children and adolescents with special healthcare needs in Raipur district of Central India: A cross-sectional study}},
author = {Krupali Gadhvi and Virat Galhotra and Rhea Gandham and Abhiruchi Galhotra and Atul Jindal and Tundup Dolker and Mugilan Ravi and Joseph Lepcha and Maneesha Babu},
journal = {Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_407_26},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_407_26},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Oral health status and treatment needs of children and adolescents with special healthcare needs in Raipur district of Central India: A cross-sectional study
AU - Krupali Gadhvi
AU - Virat Galhotra
AU - Rhea Gandham
AU - Abhiruchi Galhotra
AU - Atul Jindal
AU - Tundup Dolker
AU - Mugilan Ravi
AU - Joseph Lepcha
AU - Maneesha Babu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry
DO - 10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_407_26
UR - https://doi.org/10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_407_26
AB - Background: Children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) often face elevated risks for oral diseases and significant challenges in accessing timely dental care. This study was conducted because data on the oral health status of CSHCN in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India, were unavailable. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the oral health status and treatment needs of individuals with special healthcare needs aged 3–19 years attending special institutes in Raipur district, Chhattisgarh, India. Design: A descriptive, institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted encompassing 684 CSHCN. Dental caries and oral hygiene status were recorded using the decayed, missing, and filled (DMFT)/dmft and OHI-S indices as per the World Health Organization Basic Methods criteria, employing a complete enumeration sampling technique. All examinations were performed on-site at the institutions, with findings for every participant captured on a purpose-built mobile application. Results: Dental caries prevalence was 67.7%, with an overall mean DMFT/dmft of 2.55. Mean DMFT/dmft did not differ significantly with age or sex but differed significantly across disability type; it did not differ significantly across socioeconomic status (SES). Fair oral hygiene was seen in 51.5% and poor oral hygiene in 12.0%; poorer hygiene was significantly associated with older age, disability type, and lower SES. Overall, 93.4% of participants required dental treatment. Developmental enamel defects were present in 41.4%, traumatic dental injuries affected 10.2%, and 24.9% exhibited a deleterious oral habit. Conclusion: A substantial and multifactorial unmet oral health need persists among CSHCN in Raipur; the findings indicate barriers to accessing dental care and caregiver awareness in relation to unmet oral health needs. Targeted interventions and policy reforms are vital for improving their oral health status.
SN - 0970-4388
SN - 1998-3905
ER -